Signs you may have obstructive sleep apnea
Do you struggle with staying awake during the daytime? If you feel chronically tired and unrested, you could have sleep apnea. It may surprise you how common sleep apnea and sleep disordered breathing are, though the symptoms do vary. If you believe you suffer from sleep apnea, a sleep study will provide you a diagnosis, which can now be completed in the comfort of your own home.
Do you think you have sleep apnea? Here is what you need to know:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a significant medical issue that causes sleep interruptions and chronic fatigue. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is one form of this disorder and is most often caused by an underdeveloped jaw. The result is a condition that causes sufferers to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, providing inadequate oxygen to the brain each night, resulting in long-term effects if left untreated.
Sleep Apnea and Disordered Breathing Symptoms
So, how do you know if you have this condition? The first thing you should do is discuss it with your doctor or dentist; they may order a sleep study. During a sleep study, sensors are attached to the patient to monitor breathing and pinpoint when and how frequently they stop breathing.
Possible Signs of Sleep Apnea
While these procedures alone are not a sleep apnea diagnosis, they can be a sign of an underdeveloped jaw, which is an underlying cause of obstructive sleep apnea. If you have chronic allergies or asthma, you may also be living with sleep apnea, as this also a common symptom.
Some Other Signs
Sleep apnea is not uncommon, and many report involuntarily falling asleep during the day as a sign of the disorder. Heavy snorers are frequently at-risk for having sleep apnea and should discuss this with their provider or practitioner.
Treatment Options
Most treatments for obstructive sleep apnea temporarily address the obstruction in the airway during sleep. At the Breathing and Sleep Center, a new approach that focuses on permanently expanding the airway for those with underdeveloped jaws; this device does not involve surgery and it could, over time, improve sleep and breathing to the point that the oral device is no longer needed.
