St. Augustine, FL
Waking up each day with a pounding headache can disrupt your life and make it challenging to concentrate or stay productive. While stress is a common headache trigger, there might be an underlying issue at play. Below, we’ll explore the link between frequent headaches and sleep apnea and discuss how seeking treatment from Palencia Dental can help you regain headache-free mornings and improve your overall well-being.
What is sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep breathing disorder that occurs when the airway is partially or completely blocked during sleep, preventing airflow. The brain detects the drop in oxygen levels and briefly awakens the individual to restore normal breathing, often accompanied by loud snoring or choking sounds. These interruptions, known as apneic events, can occur as often as hundreds of times per night for a patient with severe, untreated sleep apnea. This is a potentially serious condition that can have far-reaching health consequences, which include potentially causing chronic headaches.
How does sleep apnea cause headaches?
One of the critical factors linking sleep apnea and headaches is oxygen deprivation. During each apneic event, when breathing stops or becomes shallow, the body experiences a drop in oxygen levels. This oxygen deprivation can lead to severe headaches, especially upon waking in the morning. Prolonged oxygen deprivation, as seen in untreated sleep apnea, can harm brain function and lead to cognitive deficits, memory problems and difficulty concentrating. Headaches are often a symptom of this oxygen-deprived state.
Frequent morning headaches are also a common indicator of sleep apnea. If you wake up with headaches on a regular basis, especially severe ones, it’s essential to consider the possibility of sleep apnea as an underlying cause.
Other sleep apnea symptoms include:
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
- Chronic Fatigue
- Depression
- Difficulty Focusing at Work or School
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
If you suspect that sleep apnea may be causing your frequent headaches, seeking diagnosis and treatment is crucial. Palencia Dental offers natural options to treat your sleep apnea.
Oral appliance therapy entails the use of a custom-made oral appliance. When worn, this oral appliance keeps the airway open, helps improve airflow, reduces snoring and prevents breathing interruptions during sleep. Each of these oral appliances is customized, making for the ideal fit and maximum effectiveness. Dr. Kinsey also may recommend lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss, avoiding alcohol and smoking and practicing good sleep hygiene, to alleviate sleep apnea symptoms.
If your headaches are a result of sleep apnea, treating the root cause – your sleep breathing disorder – will provide the relief that you have been seeking.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in St. Augustine and Palm Coast in Florida
If you experience daily headaches, an inability to concentrate or persistent daytime sleepiness, and traditional headache remedies have not helped, then it’s essential to consider the possibility of sleep apnea being the culprit. Dr. Kinsey and the team at Palencia Dental in St. Augustine are here to help. Schedule a consultation to explore treatment options and regain control of your mornings. Visit us online or give us a call at 904-664-5254 today to take the first step toward headache-free days and improved overall health.
