Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
Some studies suggest that as many as one billion people suffer from sleep apnea, but most of those cases are undiagnosed. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea, which is a dangerous sleeping condition that prevents someone from reaping the benefits of a solid, full night’s sleep.
Sleep has now joined exercise and a well-balanced diet as the most effective ways people can protect their heart health. With so many people losing sleep at night, our sleep apnea dentist in Okemos, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, is sharing today some of the serious health consequences of ignoring sleep apnea.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
There are two main kinds of sleep apnea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea. It happens when the soft tissue in a person’s throat relaxes and blocks the airway during sleep. Breathing stops in increments of usually 10-20 seconds multiple times a night, reducing the oxygen that the body receives. Men are more likely to develop sleep apnea than women, and it is often caused by obesity and over-consumption of alcohol.
What are the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea?
- Loud snoring or gasping for air while asleep
- Excessive daytime fatigue
- Inability to concentrate
- Problems with memory
- Irritability and mood swings
- Chronic headaches
- Anxiety and depression
What are the health consequences of living with sleep apnea?
The consequences of sleep apnea on human health are plenty. The American Heart Association writes: “Sleep apnea increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and can lead to worse outcomes from cardiovascular disease. Obstructive sleep apnea, in particular, has been linked to higher rates of high blood pressure, stroke, and coronary artery disease. There’s also evidence that sleep apnea can cause left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, which increases the risk of heart failure.”
Sleep apnea can also cause extreme fatigue, mood swings, anxiety and depression. The human brain needs oxygen to properly function. Frequent pauses in breathing at night prevent oxygen from reaching the brain and body. When a person stops breathing, reflexes respond by startling the person awake to take a breath of air. These incidents throughout the night repeatedly disrupt the sleep cycle, prevent a person from reaping the benefits of restorative stages of sleep and keep the brain from being able to properly restore and rejuvenate. This can lead to disastrous consequences when, for instance, a person is behind the wheel of a car, operating heavy machinery at work or making decisions for other employees with hazardous jobs.
How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
Sleep apnea is usually first noticed by a sleeping partner. Snoring does not only keep the snorer from reaping the benefits of a good night’s sleep; it also disrupts the sleep of a bed partner. Many times, this is what first prompts patients to seek help from Dr. Tenaglia in our Lansing sleep apnea treatment office.
Dr. Tenaglia will perform a comprehensive exam and may refer patients to a partnering sleep specialist who would, if appropriate, make an official diagnosis of sleep apnea. Back at our East Lansing sleep apnea dentist’s office, we will take digital images of your teeth and mouth for an oral appliance — similar to a mouthguard but more comfortable since it’s custom fit — to wear at night. Oral appliance therapy will reposition the jaw at night to open the airway. This is usually enough to stop the symptoms of sleep apnea without having to use a CPAP machine.
Sleep apnea treatment in East Lansing and Okemos
Sleep apnea makes a person snore, and snoring is annoying. However, the consequences of sleep apnea are far more dangerous. Treating sleep apnea can help a person feel more awake and alert during the day, leading to better outcomes in personal relationships and professional lives. It can address bruxism — the clenching and grinding of teeth at night — that causes joint pain and wears down teeth, changing a person’s bite. All of this can lead to daytime headaches, so treating sleep apnea can also help with chronic headaches. And perhaps most important of all, treating sleep apnea protects heart health and lowers the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and coronary artery disease. If you or someone you love is snoring or gasping for air at night, or if they’re noticeably chronically tired during the day no matter how much sleep they get, give Tenaglia Smiles a call at (517) 940-8684, or reach out to us online to schedule a consultation today.