Do you often feel exhausted during the day, even if you assume you rested well the night before? Then you could be suffering from a common but serious disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Instead of letting this disorder harm your quality of life, why not turn to your Astoria, NY, dentist for a possible solution?
The Facts About Sleep Apnea
OSA means that while you sleep, soft tissues in the back of your mouth and in your throat collapse and cut off airflow. This means you stop breathing briefly, until the brain wakes you. While you may not remember this occurring, it could happen hundreds of times in a single night, interrupting your sleep cycle frequently and causing you to feel exhausted. Factors behind the disorder include a large neck circumference, obesity, issues with sinus and allergies, deviated septum, and excessive alcohol consumption before bed.
The Impacts on Your Life
OSA could mean that you feel tired every day, and experience irritability, and have trouble concentrating on tasks at work or school. Over time, the disorder could strain your immune system to cause more frequent illness, and place stress on your cardiovascular system, which increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. When you experience the symptoms of the disorder, you should let us know right away. Common warning signs include chronic snoring, headaches, migraines, dry mouth, and daytime doughinesses. If you encounter one or more of these potential warning signs, then let us know right away.
Treatment with an Oral Appliance
Once we diagnose the issue and find you need treatment, we could offer an alternative to the CPAP machine, one that is much more comfortable and convenient to use. We begin by taking detailed digital images of the smile, and using them to design and craft and oral appliance. The finished product will look and fit like a mouthguard, and is worn as you sleep. The device actually repositions the jaw to keep airways open and prevent the collapse of soft tissues. You then sleep with ease.
Other helpful actions could include avoiding excessive alcohol, caffeine, large meals, or vigorous exercise before going to bed. Try to rest on your side instead of your back, and maintain a regular sleep schedule. If you have any questions about how to diagnose and treat sleep apnea, then contact our team today to learn more.
Interested in Treating Your OSA?
We’re ready to help you enjoy better oral health and quality of life by addressing your OSA. To learn more about how to improve your sleep and feel more alert, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
