Serving areas of Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Snoring and gasping for air while sleeping could be concerning to your significant other. These symptoms are signs you could be suffering from a sleep condition called obstructive sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This sleep-breathing disorder is a common condition where your throat muscles relax, leading to the collapse of soft tissue and block or completely restrict your airway. Snoring is the most obvious symptom of sleep apnea, but it’s not the only one. Dr. Christine Tenaglia, a sleep apnea dentist in Okemos, is sharing eight symptoms of sleep apnea and how she can help.
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Snoring
People who suffer from sleep apnea share the most common symptom, snoring. Intermittent snoring during allergy season or when fighting a cold is typically not a big concern. However, snoring caused by sleep apnea causes consistent, loud snoring heard by the one who sleeps in the same room. Since you may not be able to tell the cause of your snoring, it’s best to get it checked by an airway dentist in Okemos.
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Dry Mouth
Waking up from sleeping with a dry mouth and sore throat may be a key sign you have sleep apnea. People who consistently snore may experience dry mouth and throat irritation.
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Headaches
Headaches that are prevalent right after waking up could be caused by a lack of oxygen to your brain or not sleeping enough. When your body does not get enough oxygen, your blood vessels widen and could create vascular headaches. If you suffer from this type of headache, consider scheduling a sleep apnea screening in Okemos.
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Daytime Drowsiness
Sleep deprivation is common in patients who suffer from sleep apnea. The signs of sleep deprivation are a lack of concentrating on basic tasks. Routine activities become difficult, and you may become forgetful. Sleep apnea causes your brain to disrupt your sleep cycle, so your body can resume breathing when your airway is blocked. Patients who suffer from severe conditions may have interrupted sleep hundreds of times in an hour without consciously waking up.
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Jaw Clenching
Jaw clenching and teeth grinding or bruxism could be a sign of stress or anxiety and is very destructive to your teeth by causing weak tooth enamel resulting in cracked, broken, or otherwise damaged teeth. Sleep apnea and bruxism could be directly related to smoking, a misaligned bite, or being overweight.
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Anxiety
When you suffer from a lack of sleep, it is common to seek ways to stay awake such as caffeinated beverages like coffee, soda, or energy drinks. Aside from the negative effects on your oral health, these sugar-filled beverages could increase your anxiety levels resulting in more disturbed sleep patterns.
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Weight Gain
Struggling to lose weight is common among those suffering from OSA because your body is not functioning at its peak performance due to sleep deprivation. Sleep apnea could affect the rate of your metabolism and your body’s ability to burn fat. To keep weight gain to a minimum, consume a healthy diet, and get daily exercise.
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Chronic Health Issues
When sleep apnea is not properly diagnosed and treated, it could lead to other health conditions such as diabetes, acid reflux, tooth loss, heart disease, high blood pressure, gum disease, and even some forms of cancer. Sleep better, and breathe better by getting an airway screening today in Okemos.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
The diagnosis of sleep apnea can only be made by a certified sleep specialist. However, your sleep apnea dentist in Okemos, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, could provide a customized oral device that stabilizes your jaw and maintains an open airway while you sleep. This method of treatment is much more convenient than a CPAP machine. For more information about sleep apnea treatment or for questions regarding sleep apnea, feel free to call (517) 347-6733 or schedule an appointment on our website today.