What Sleep Apnea is and Why it’s Affecting Your Health
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep apnea, occurs when your airway becomes blocked due to your throat relaxing and the tissues in your throat obstruct airflow. When your airway is blocked while sleeping, your breathing pauses and you begin to snore.
If you’re not breathing, your brain sends messages to your body to bring it out of sleep so that your airway can reopen. As someone suffering from sleep apnea, this can happen dozens of times in a single night, preventing you from getting the benefits of proper sleep. While you won’t know when this happens, your sleep cycle is reset each time, preventing you from getting enough solid sleep.
By preventing your throat from obstructing your airflow, you can avoid the symptoms that come with having obstructive sleep apnea and your body can recharge at night. Dental appliances, administered by Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctors, are an option to help you escape the constant disruption sleep apnea causes to your sleep.
Prevent sleep apnea and snoring from disrupting your sleep, health & partner.
Sleep apnea and snoring aren’t minor conditions that exist without the possibility of resulting in severe consequences. Both sleep apnea and snoring are disrupting conditions. Your sleep, health, and your partner are all likely affected in the following ways:
Sleep
With sleep apnea, your sleep cycle is interrupted through the night, making it nearly impossible to get a good night’s sleep. Snoring may also cause you to wake, prohibiting a sound sleep. Being unable to sleep soundly can drain your energy and affect your work performance.
Health
Both your mental and physical health can be impacted from sleep apnea and snoring. Without proper sleep you are more at-risk for many troublesome issues1, including:
- Depression
- Loss of memory
- Acid reflux
- Confusion
- Asthma
- Weakened immune system
- High blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing
- Decrease in sexual drive
- Fatigue
- High cholesterol
Your Partner’s Health
Snoring and sleep apnea can prevent your partner from falling asleep or wake them in the middle of the night. This can put a strain on your relationship.By addressing your sleep apnea and excessive snoring with South Indiana ENT, you can improve your sleep, health, and be worry free in your relationship. Schedule an appointment today, or continue reading about how dental appliances may be your best option to find long-term relief from sleep apnea and snoring.
How Dental Appliances Prevent the Harmful Effects of Sleep Apnea
Dental appliances, also known as oral appliances, keep your airway open by preventing your tongue and throat tissues from closing, which is the root cause of your snoring and sleep apnea issues. These appliances are an alternative treatment to the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine and can reduce or completely prevent the symptoms you’re experiencing from sleep apnea and snoring.
Dental appliances are custom-made to fit your throat, and they position your tongue and jaw in a way that keeps your airway free from obstruction at night and allows a proper amount of oxygen to enter your system.
Dental appliances are:
- Comfortable
- Non-invasive
- A safe alternative to CPAP
- Small and easy to store
- Effective
- Able to reduce snoring and sleep apnea symptoms
To learn if you’re a candidate for dental appliances to treat your sleep apnea, continue reading below or schedule an appointment today with South Indiana ENT.
Explore the Benefits of Dental Appliances with Southern Indiana ENT
Southern Indiana ENT is known throughout the Midwest for our state-of-the-art sinus, allergy, sleep and hearing services, including the treatment of sleep apnea and snoring. As a patient of Southern Indiana ENT, you will benefit from our team’s experience, compassionate care and commitment to exceed your expectations.
Sleep apnea and snoring shouldn’t run your life – you should!
Dental appliances can put an end to your sleep apnea symptoms and snoring to give you back the priceless sleep you want and need. Contact us to see if you are a candidate for dental appliances today.
Schedule Your Appointment Today!
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