What To Do If You Have Sleep Apnea Symptoms?

If you wake up feeling exhausted although you’ve had a full eight-hour sleep, you might have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea symptoms can be signs to other health issues or are hard to notice since most of it occurs during sleep. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, immediately consult your dentist as it’s a serious sleep disorder that involves breathing interruptions.  

Types of sleep apnea

Dr. Yao shares the three types of sleep apnea that can happen to anyone.

• Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. It’s more common than the other types where the throat muscles relax and cause airway block.
• Central sleep apnea. This type is caused by the brain that’s not properly sending signals to the muscles to breathe.
• Complex sleep apnea. This type occurs when you have both central and obstructive sleep disorder.

Symptoms

The obstructive and central sleep apnea symptoms can sometimes overlap making it hard to determine which type of sleep disorder you have. In any case, watch out for these common sleep disruption signs.

• Snoring. Even if you snore loudly, you would not be aware of it unless one of your family members inform you. Take this note seriously and seek a dentist’s help as snoring can also be a sign of heart problems.
• Breathing episodes and gasping for air. If you or your partner notice that your breathing during sleep stops for seconds before starting again, beware. Dr. Yaosuggests that you immediately take actions with breathing problems.
• Dry mouth upon waking up. This happens when your nasal passage is blocked and you’re breathing through your mouth.
• Headache. It’s one of the sleep apnea symptoms, however, headaches can be a sign to other health causes. Nonetheless, it’s a condition that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
• Insomnia. According to some patients, sleep apnea would result in them having a hard time to fall asleep.
• Hypersomnia. Since sleep apnea disrupts your sleep at night, hypersomnia or the urge to sleep even at broad daylight happens.
• Irritability. Anyone who has lack of sleep becomes moody and over-sensitive.
• Lack of concentration. Aside from being annoyed, it’s also hard to focus on daily tasks when your body yearns for a proper rest.

Treatments

At the dental clinic of Dr. Yao, there are numerous methods of treatment to address your sleep apnea.

Changing your sleeping habits is a simple yet an essential step to avoid the risks of a disruptive sleep. Try to find comfortable sleeping positions to improve your breathing at night. Liquors and sleeping pills will help you sleep. However, you’re not fully in control and aware of your body while it’s dormant.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure of CPAP is currently a proven dental device to effectively treat obstructive sleep apnea. Your dental clinic may recommend you where to avail of this product.