Sleep is very important. It’s the time when your body heals itself and your mind clear itself. We need it for our well-being and our health. When there’s a problem that comes between you and a great night’s sleep, it might be a bigger issue than you think.
Sleep apnea is an all too common problem. What happens when a person suffers from sleep apnea is they stop breathing for short periods of time while they sleep. This happens for three different reasons:
Types of Sleep Apnea
1. The brain isn’t letting the respiratory system know to breath. This is known as Central Sleep Apnea.
2. A physical block in the airway causes the lapse in breathing, usually the tissue of the throat and tongue. This is known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
3. A combination of both the brain failing to signal and a blockage. This is known as Complex - or Mixed - Sleep Apnea.
While the most common one is Obstructive Sleep Apnea, all three are serious issues. It can be a scary thing to know that you or someone you care about is struggling to breath in what should be the most restful time of day. Fortunately, the signs of sleep apnea are easy to spot and there are treatments to help with this dangerous condition:
Know the Signs
1. Very loud snoring - Many people snore so this may seem like a tricky one to pin down. People who suffer from sleep apnea snore erratically and often so loud that they will wake others up. If you or someone you know snores in a chronic (nightly) and disruptive manner, it may be the first sign that you need to pay attention.
2. Frequent breaks in breathing - This can be a frightening thing to witness. When the breathing stops and starts again, it often sounds like the person is choking. If this happens several times every night, it’s time to seek help.
3. Feeling tired all the time or having disordered sleep - Sufferers of sleep apnea don’t get the rejuvenating, refreshing sleep on account of their condition. They will feel unrested despite having slept for a whole night. Sometimes they have problems like insomnia or will wake up frequently. Not getting enough sleep or getting insufficient sleep can wreak havoc on a person’s daily life. They can be irritable, suffer from mood swings, and feel like they’re unable to concentrate.
4. Waking up with headaches - If you find yourself waking up and having a headache first thing in the morning day after day then sleep apnea may be the culprit. Another possible cause of morning headaches is the temporomandibular joint - or TMJ. When you have a TMJ disorder - also called TMD - genetics, arthritis, stress, or other injuries to your TMJ may be causing your headaches.
5. Dry mouth or a sore throat when you wake up - Having trouble breathing during the night causes a person suffering from sleep apnea to breath in and out of their mouth while they are sleeping and even sometimes during the day. This leads to dry mouth and sore throat, not to mention chapped lips.
Treatment
There’s no reason to keep on suffering. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, there are treatments out there to keep you breathing and sleeping the whole night. Give Modern Dental Solutions a call at (606) 864-1441 to schedule a consultation. Start down the path to getting a better night’s sleep and living a better quality of life today!