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Questions About Sleep Apnea
Edmond, Lawton, Norman, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that affects millions of Americans. People with sleep apnea stop breathing at repeated intervals during their sleep. This can occur hundreds of times throughout the night, and some periods of non-breathing can last a minute or longer. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems, including heart attack, cardiovascular disease, stroke, memory problems, and more.
What symptoms are associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused when the soft tissue in the back of your mouth and throat relaxes during sleep, blocking your airway. This blockage forces your body out of a state of rest and lowers the oxygen in your bloodstream, which can result in several symptoms, including:
- Snoring
- Choking spells at night
- Chest pain
- Sweating
- Memory and concentration problems
- Morning headaches
- Heartburn
Excessive daytime sleepiness and restless tossing and turning at night are the most common symptoms of OSA, but these two symptoms alone do not always mean patients have sleep apnea. In order to obtain a proper diagnosis, consider scheduling a consultation with experienced sleep apnea specialist Dr. Terry Bass today.
What causes Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)?
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is rarer than OSA. Your airway is not physically blocked like in OSA; instead, your brain does not properly signal your body to breathe at all. This can be caused by a tumor or another type of neurological event, such as:
- A stroke
- Severe arthritis that has caused damage to the spine or base of the skull
- Congestive heart failure
- Neurological disease (i.e. Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Primary hyperventilation syndrome
- Complications during spinal cord surgery
Snoring is not usually a symptom of central sleep apnea.
How can sleep apnea be treated?
The most common sleep apnea treatment is a therapy called CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). This involves the use of a mask that is connected to a machine through a flexible tube. The machine pushes air through your passages at a pressure that is high enough to prevent sleep apnea. CPAP can be prescribed for both obstructive and central sleep apnea.
Other treatment options include custom oral appliances similar to mouthguards, which Dr. Bass can create for you if necessary. If you have a mild case of sleep apnea, you may be able to treat it through simple lifestyle or behavioral changes, such as quitting smoking or losing weight.
If you live in the Oklahoma City area and have further questions about sleep apnea, please contact experienced sleep apnea specialist Dr. Terry Bass, DDS today to schedule an initial consultation.
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