Sleep Apnea Waking up in the middle of the night can sometimes be a scary experience, especially when you wake up gasping for a breath. What many don't realize is that they could be experiencing a condition known as sleep apnea. With sleep apnea, these sleeping conditions can have a negative impact on your overall health and well-being. Besides affecting your health, your breathing may also stop temporarily. It is this temporary stop in breathing that causes you to wake suddenly. Often, sleep apnea may not be easy to discover on your own. Besides waking up on a nightly basis, you may be more tired than usual throughout the day. When you start to notice these changes, it will be time to give Mukilteo Smiles a call so that our dentists can point you in the right direction for diagnosis and treatment. Obstructive Sleep ApneaHaving obstructive sleep apnea means that you are experiencing a condition that relaxes your throat muscles. When your throat relaxes more than normal, then it will narrow and eventually cuts off your breathing ability. This will be when your body makes you wake suddenly. Central Sleep ApneaHaving central sleep apnea involves a condition of the central nervous system and is not as common as obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by a delay in brain signals that tell your lungs to breathe. When your lungs fail to get the signals, you will wake suddenly. Are Many Affected by Sleep Apnea?Many healthcare professionals believe that there is a large percentage of adults who have sleep apnea and do not even know it. There are also many who have been experiencing sleep apnea and are not diagnosed with the condition. Many medical professionals also believe that there is an equal amount of sufferers of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. However, there seem to be more men than women that are affected by sleep apnea. It is also believed that obstructive sleep apnea occurs more than central sleep apnea. Obtaining Treatment for Sleep ApneaSleep apnea has many treatments available. Because of these treatments, you should be in contact with your healthcare professional as soon as possible. This will help you be more informed about the condition so that you will know which one you are experiencing. After a diagnosis of sleep apnea is made, the treatments used will be successful because of the advanced technology and tools used to enhance sleep. These tools may include the use of a CPAP machine which will provide a puff of air continuously to maintain an open airway. This will decrease the risk of future episodes of waking up nightly. We also offer other types of oral appliance therapy. Another way to decrease risk of sleep apnea is to change your lifestyle and maintain a healthy diet and weight. You can also start to sleep on your side more. Including these changes will easily bring back good sleep. Now that you know the basics of sleep apnea, it's time to contact Mukilteo Smiles. By calling us at (425) 438-2400, we will get you in touch with sleep specialists to get the proper testing so that diagnosing can be obtained and treatment started. |
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