5 Signs You Have Sleep Apnea

What if we told you that 80 percent of people with a serious health condition don’t know that they are at risk? It’s true: experts estimate that 22 million Americans have sleep apnea -- but 80 percent of them don’t know it yet! With that in mind, we’ve put together this list of five signs you might have sleep apnea. If any of these sound like you, call our North Richland Hills office today!

1. Regular Fatigue

Do you feel tired, no matter how many hours you sleep? Do you find yourself dozing off throughout the day? Constant fatigue is a common sign of sleep apnea. Why? People with sleep apnea experience breathing obstructions while asleep. They may stop breathing hundreds of times throughout the night, leading to poor quality sleep and daytime fatigue.<?p>

2. Snoring

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. However, snoring is incredibly common in sleep apnea patients! Snoring occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat collapse. When air moves over them as you breathe, this results in that snore sound. If you or a loved one snores, you may have sleep apnea!

3. Morning Headaches

It probably comes as no surprise that if you stop breathing hundreds of times throughout the night, you’ll probably feel bad when you wake up. Morning headaches are a common sign of sleep apnea, along with a sore throat or dry mouth.

4. Mood Changes

You don’t need to be a doctor to know that sleep is important for your health -- both physically and mentally. When sleep is interrupted, people often experience mood changes. This could include depression, anxiety, memory problems, and other issues.

5. Gasping & Choking

If you’ve ever woken up gasping or choking for breath, that is a sign you were experiencing a breathing obstruction caused by sleep apnea. Some are severe enough to cause you to wake up, but hundreds of other obstructions may be occurring while you’re still asleep.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

If one or more of these sound like you, you may have sleep apnea. Not only can Dr. Desai help diagnose your condition, she can help you get relief! Call us today to learn more about our sleep apnea services or to schedule your next appointment.

Suffer From Chronic Snoring? Sleep Apnea Treatment Can Help!

Has anyone ever told you that you’re a major snorer? Or maybe your partner is currently being driven crazy by your chronic snoring. If that’s the case for you, you might want to consider getting diagnosed for sleep apnea. While snoring doesn’t definitely mean that you have sleep apnea, it is a common symptom of those with the condition. Sleep apnea treatments won’t just help you sort out your snoring issues, but it’ll also ensure you don’t suffer negative effects from a serious health condition.

The Connection Between Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Snoring happens when your airway is partially blocked and this leads to vibration during breathing, which in turn causes the snoring sound. Obstructive sleep apnea is the form of the sleep disorder where your throat muscles relax to the point where your airway gets blocked and causes pauses in your breathing. This commonality of a blocked airway is why many people who have obstructive sleep apnea also snore.

Basics of Sleep Apnea Treatment

The goal of sleep apnea treatment is to stop your airway from being blocked so you can breathe seamlessly while you sleep. To do this, a dental professional can make you a custom mouthpiece that repositions your jaw and opens your airway. Opening your airway can also take care of the cause of your snoring! Getting to enjoy uninterrupted sleep and no more snoring sounds like a win-win to us!

If you’re curious to know more about sleep apnea treatment, or you’d like to get started on your own treatment, contact North Richland Hills Dentistry today. We are happy to answer any and all questions you have, and we can provide our patients with sleep apnea relief.