Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
You go to bed at a reasonable hour and the next morning think you slept well — you have no recollection of tossing or turning through the night — but you still wake up tired and feel like you’re dragging all day. What in the world is going on?
Your problem could be with the quality of sleep you’re receiving as opposed to the quantity of hours you spend catching your z’s. Perhaps you have a snoring or wiggly bedmate, or maybe you unknowingly snore yourself. Or it could be that you have a more serious problem: a sleep-breathing condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Our airway dentist in Okemos explains it all on today’s blog:
What is OSA?
OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea and it happens when the airway collapses or becomes blocked while a person is breathing during sleep. Each time a blockage occurs, whether partial or complete, the airflow becomes restricted or is completely cut off, oxygen levels drop and the brain reacts as if the person is choking. The brain sends signals to the body to resume the normal breathing pattern, which requires interrupting the person’s sleep cycle. Each of these blockages is known as an “apneic event” and they can happen a dozen times a night — or 100 times for someone with severe, untreated sleep apnea — all while the sufferer is unaware. Most have no recollection of it the next morning.
The National Sleep Foundation estimates that about 20 percent of the American population suffers from some form of sleep apnea. This is only an estimate because sleep apnea is often undiagnosed and, therefore, untreated.
What are the consequences of lost sleep?
A body greatly suffers if deprived of adequate oxygen and sleep. People with sleep apnea are continuously being startled out of their slumbers, preventing them from reaching the deep, restorative stages of sleep. Unfortunately, no matter how many hours of sleep a person with sleep apnea receives, it will never be enough to prevent the condition’s daytime symptoms. A lack of quality sleep can lead not only to chronic daytime fatigue but also to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, heart attack, stroke and depression.
Over time, sleep loss can also cause:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory loss
- Mood swings and irritability
- Memory loss
- Loss of libido or impotence
- Unexplained weight gain
- An overall decline in physical health
How can a dentist treat sleep apnea?
Some dentists, like Dr. Christine Tenaglia at Tenaglia Smiles in Okemos, practice sleep apnea dentistry, which focuses on airway management. Our entire dental team is specially trained in airway management, and we conduct airway evaluations and sleep studies that identify what is obstructing a patient’s airway and causing the sleep-breathing disorder. Then, we create a customized treatment program; this usually starts with our preferred oral appliance therapy. We provide our patients with a custom-made oral appliance that guides the lower jaw into the ideal forward position, maintaining maximum airflow during sleep and helping prevent blockages.
Sleep apnea treatment in East Lansing and Okemos
Not all dentists are trained in sleep disorders, but our dental team at Tenaglia Smiles, led by Dr. Christine Tenaglia, includes practitioners of sleep apnea dentistry. If you believe you or a family member may be suffering from sleep apnea, you owe it to yourself, your health and your quality of life to be screened. To find out more, schedule a consultation with us by calling (517) 940-8684 or reach us online today.