405-848-7780
Sleep Apnea
Edmond, Lawton, Norman, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Millions of people across the country suffer from a condition called sleep apnea. Many more may have it and not even realize it. Sleep apnea sufferers stop breathing ten seconds or more a night. This can happen hundreds of times each night. Because the body’s normal reaction is to wake up to start you breathing again, it is difficult to enter the deep sleep cycles needed to maintain your rest, and by extension your health.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA). CSA is rarer and is usually caused by problems with the messages sent from your brain to your body telling it to breathe. This can be caused by a tumor or other neurologic event. The more common form, OSA, is caused by the soft tissue in the back of the mouth and throat relaxing during sleep, which then blocks the airway. This blockage not only forces the sufferer out of a state of rest, but significantly lowers the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream.
One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is loud, excessive snoring. This may also prevent others who are nearby from sleeping soundly. This can cause sleep deprivation for your loved ones, which can have negative effects on your daily lives together.
Other symptoms include:
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Daytime exhaustion
- Memory and concentration issues
- Impairment to the short term memory
- Chronic fatigue
- Behavioral changes, such as depression
Dangers of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea can do more than simply keep you from sleeping soundly. Because the oxygen level in your blood is lowered, you may develop extremely serious health conditions. Those who have severe sleep apnea may be deprived of nearly 50 percent of their oxygen intake. This kind of extreme oxygen deprivation greatly increases the chance of stroke or heart attack.
Other conditions that are cause by sleep apnea include:
- High blood pressure
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Fibromyalgia (chronic muscle and joint pain)
- Weight gain
- Diabetes
- Memory impairment
If you suffer from any of these conditions, but have not yet been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you should seek treatment immediately. Mild cases of sleep apnea can be treated through lifestyle or behavioral changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking, or drinking less alcohol. More severe cases may be treated through the use of various tools, such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or oral appliances that look like mouth guards.
If you believe you may have sleep apnea, and are in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma or the surrounding area, please contact experienced sleep apnea treatment specialist Terry Bass, DDS for an initial consultation.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112
405-848-7780
