Suffering from excessive snoring? Headaches? Fatigue during the day? You or someone you know may be suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a medical issue that is detrimental to your health. The dental team at Academy Dental in Victoria wants you to know the facts so you can better understand sleep apnea and discover a treatment.
Snoring isn’t always sleep apnea – there is a distinct difference between the two. Snoring is common for many people – in fact, about 30% to 50% of the North American population have been known to snore at some point.
OSA, on the other hand, is a disorder where you stop breathing for a short time while you are sleeping. This kind of sleep disorder can drastically affect your life when it comes to your memory and learning.
Why is Sleep Apnea bad?
Oxygen decreases when you have sleep apnea, and this can increase you blood pressure and put stress on your cardiovascular system. Approximately 50% of people with sleep apnea have hypertension and are are high risk for stroke and heart disease. If a person has more than 20 occurrences of sleep apnea every hour they are asleep, they could die from heart palpitations, stroke, or a heart attack. If you have a history of heart disease, it can result in immediate death.
Sleep apnea gets worse as we get older. Our age and body mass index can contribute to sleep apnea, and is more common with men than women.
So what can you do to treat sleep apnea?
The sleep apnea experts at Academy Dental in Victoria can talk to you about your sleep routine. You must let us know in great detail all your sleep habits and when you snore. If you’re not sure, ask the person you share a bed with. They’ll be able to give you an idea if you pause while you’re snoring.
If your dentist diagnoses you with sleep apnea, the following can help:
- Losing at least 10 pounds
- Changing your position while you sleep
- Do not drink alcohol or caffeine near the time you go to sleep, and avoid consuming heavy meals near bedtime
- Do not take sedatives because they can loosen up your throat muscles which makes snoring worse
If your sleep apnea is severe and you need medical treatment, the dental team at Academy Dental in Victoria will let you know what your best options are. Some options your dentist may consider are RF, LAUP, Behavior Modification, oral appliances, C-PAP, Bi-PAP, or surgery options such as UPPP, Hyoid Suspension, GGA, or MMA. For more information about these treatments, book a consultation at our dental clinic today.
At Academy Dental in Victoria, our sleep apnea experts can determine which one of these procedures would be right for you, so be sure to contact us at Academy Dental in Victoria today so we can diagnose your sleep apnea problem and direct you towards the proper treatment.
