Have you been dealing with sleep apnea in Huber Heights? If so, then the idea of a good night’s rest can seem like a thing of myth. To make matters worse, if you usually have to deal with seasonal allergies, it can exacerbate the situation. As you read on, learn about the connection between the two issues and how, with treatment from your local sleep dentist, you can fight back!
Sleep Apnea Explained
If you’ve been told you’re a loud snorer, there’s a chance that you have sleep apnea, which refers to frequent lapses in your breathing while you sleep that can last up to 10 seconds each time. The most common form of the condition is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is the partial blockage of the airway while you sleep.
Some of the usual contributors to this condition are an enlarged tongue, the tongue falling to the back of the mouth while sleeping, increased neck girth or the throat muscles becoming relaxed during the sleep cycle.
How Allergies Can Make Matters Worse
Seasonal allergies can encourage the sleep apnea symptoms by causing the tonsils or adenoids to swell, which can contribute to restricted airflow. This poses an added danger because among people with allergies, the pauses in breathing can be longer and more frequent.
Thus, it’s important to take the proper steps to treat your allergy symptoms, which may include the use of a nasal steroid.
How Sleep Apnea Can be Treated
Here are the two primary ways of treating sleep apnea:
- CPAP Machine – The most common way of treating sleep apnea is with a CPAP machine, which consists of a base unit, tube and mask that force air into the throat throughout the night to prevent snoring and breaks in breathing.
- Somnodent Oral Appliance – While the CPAP machine is highly effective, many patients find it uncomfortable, cumbersome and too loud. An alternative is for your sleep dentist to custom-design a Somnodent oral appliance that helps to gently shift your jaw forward to allow for better oxygen flow.
Don’t Procrastinate
If you notice such warning signs as chronic fatigue, morning throat soreness, dry mouth, inability to concentrate or frequent mood swings, then you shouldn’t ignore them. Otherwise, you could leave yourself in danger of developing life-threatening issues like hypertension, heart disease, obesity, or you could suffer a stroke.
To prevent these and other problems from arising and to get the rest you need, contact your dentist in Huber Heights today to schedule a consultation.
About the Author
Dr. James A. Striebel is a graduate of the Case Western Reserve Dental School in Cleveland. For over 20 years, he has provided the highest quality of dental care to his patients. To stay abreast of the frequent changes in sleep dentistry, Dr. Striebel maintains professional membership with the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He helps his patients recover from sleep apnea at his private practice, and he can be reached for more information through his website.