Do you often wake up feeling exhausted, despite having slept the night before? Does your significant other complain about your loud, chronic snoring? Why do we snore? Can this can a possible warning sign of a serious health issues? Find out what you need to know about snoring and the link to obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA.
Common Questions About Snoring and Sleep Apnea in Astoria, NY
Question: What causes a patient to snore?
Answer: Typically, when we sleep air flows freely. However, in some cases the soft tissue in the back of the throat and mouth can become relaxed to the point of collapse. When this occurs, air is partially obstructed and must be forced through when the patient breathes. The tissue then vibrates, creating the snoring noise.
Question: What the risks associated with snoring?
Answer: Often, this is simply a warning sign of a very serious disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea. Patients develop sleep apnea when they stop breathing during sleep. The brain must wake the patient up to breath again, but the patient will have no memory of this despite waking up hundreds of times a night.
Question: How do I know if it’s sleep apnea?
Answer: Patients may experience a number of symptoms, including waking up gasping for air or choking, depression, daytime exhaustion, and irritability. Patients may also have difficulty concentrating during the day. If you ignore these warning signs and don’t seek treatment, you may experience high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
Question: How do I stop snoring?
Answer: You can make changes to your daily routine, such as sleeping on your side, losing weight, and avoiding caffeine or alcohol before bed. We can also recommend an oral appliance to be worn at night, which repositions the jaw in order to keep airways open.
ABOUT YOUR ASTORIA PREVENTIVE DENTIST
Our Astoria, NY dentist office accepts most major insurance plans. To find out if we accept yours, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, contact us at (718) 728-8320. We welcome patients living in and around Queens, Astoria, NYC, upstate New York, and New Jersey.
