Sleep Apnea 101: What to Know About Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea in Allen, Texas

Allen Dental Center provides treatment for excessive snoring and sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy – a non-invasive and comfortable treatment option. Excessive snoring can affect the quality of one’s rest and those around them while sleep apnea is a condition that causes pauses in breathing during sleep. Since we sleep for about one-third of our lives, it is important to strive for quality rest that revives our bodies and minds.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea and Excessive Snoring

Since snoring and sleep apnea occur when we are at rest, they often go unnoticed until someone else points out the symptoms. Some symptoms you may notice include waking up with dry mouth, headaches, and feeling tired even after a full night of sleep.

Sleep Apnea and Health

Research shows strong correlations between sleep apnea and other health issues – especially issues related to sleep deprivation. Long-term sleep deprivation can cause chronic fatigue, memory loss, impaired motor function, depression, and irritability. Studies have also shown that erratic breathing patterns caused by sleep apnea can weaken the heart and negatively affect the pulmonary system.

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

Certain factors can put a person at increased risk for sleep apnea. Those who are overweight are likely to develop bulky throat tissue that can block the airway when one lies down to sleep. Patients who drink alcoholic beverages before bed or take medications that cause sedating or drowsy effects can also cause soft oral tissue to relax into the throat and block airways. Other contributors to sleep apnea can include developmental abnormalities at the back of the mouth, smoking, and a family history of sleep apnea.

Treatment Options

There are a few treatment options available for sleep apnea. If sleep apnea is detected, we will recommend the use of a custom oral appliance, which is the most comfortable and conservative treatment option. If this treatment is ineffective, we can refer patients to specialists for further evaluation.