St. Augustine, FL
Snoring is annoying. The person who’s snoring isn’t fazed by it; after all, they’re sleeping through it. But snoring can ruin a good night’s sleep for other members of the household and certainly for a bed partner. Snoring is more than just an irritating nighttime nuisance. It’s also the most common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, a dangerous sleep-breathing disorder that’s characterized by loud snoring and pauses in breathing during sleep. Many people mistake snoring as normal, but it’s not. Today, our sleep apnea dentist in St. Augustine explains what obstructive sleep apnea is and the alarming dangers of ignoring it.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea, and research suggests that millions of people have it, many of them unknowingly. Sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring and interrupted breathing during sleep. It occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep and the airway is obstructed or collapses. This leads to breathing interruptions that can last from a few seconds to a minute or longer and can occur multiple times throughout the night — 100 times or more in the most severe cases.
From cardiovascular complications to cognitive impairment, sleep apnea poses health risks — some of them severe — when left untreated:
- Cardiovascular Complications — When the body is deprived of oxygen, especially repeatedly as happens with sleep apnea, and it experiences sudden surges in blood pressure, it strains the cardiovascular system and increases a person’s risk of hypertension, stroke and heart disease.
- Daytime Fatigue and Cognitive Impairment — Sleep apnea interrupts sleep repeatedly through the night, interfering with the sleep cycle and the restorative stages of sleep. This leads to daytime exhaustion, no matter how many hours a person spends in bed. This extreme fatigue causes an inability to concentrate and focus. It can affect memory and reduce cognitive function, impacting someone’s work or school performance. It can also lead to disastrous consequences behind the wheel of a car or while operating heavy machinery.
- Depression and Anxiety — The frustration of poor sleep quality and the emotional toll of constant fatigue can significantly impact one’s overall well-being, exacerbating mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
- Metabolic Disorders — Obesity is the leading cause of obstructive sleep apnea because of excess fat around the neck and throat. But not only does obesity cause sleep apnea, sleep apnea can also cause obesity. Poor sleep can cause weight gain by triggering hormonal imbalances that disrupt the body’s regulation of appetite, metabolism and energy expenditure. This contributes to weight gain and makes it difficult to manage existing metabolic conditions like diabetes.
- Relationship Problems — The disruptive snoring and restless sleep associated with untreated sleep apnea can strain relationships, leading to conflicts and intimacy issues between bed partners. It very often leads to a “sleep divorce,” when one bed partner moves to a different room. This can lead to resentment and frustration.
How is sleep apnea treated?
Many people believe sleep apnea to be a respiratory problem so they seek out the help of their primary care physician. It’s always a good idea to discuss issues with your medical doctor, but if you have symptoms of sleep apnea, you should also reach out to your dentist.
During a consultation, our family dentist in St. Augustine will ask for your medical history and any symptoms of sleep apnea you may be having. If, through consultation and exam, our dental team believes you may have sleep apnea, we may refer you to a sleep specialist for a study that will be conducted either in-home or in a sleep lab. This will determine if you have sleep apnea.
While some medical professionals may automatically recommend a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and mask to wear during sleep, our dentist has found equally positive results through a less cumbersome process: oral appliance therapy.
What is oral appliance therapy?
Oral appliances are clear plastic trays that are custom-fit to be comfortable to wear at night. The trays position the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open while sleeping.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in St. Augustine, Florida
Despite the many potential health consequences, countless cases of sleep apnea remain undiagnosed and untreated. Early detection and intervention are key to treating the dangerous sleep-breathing disorder to prevent it from becoming a health or relationship hazard. Mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea can be treated in as little as one or two visits to our St. Augustine airway dentist at Palencia Dental. If you believe you may have sleep apnea, or if you have a bed partner who complains about your snoring, call our office at 904-664-5254, and let’s get you scheduled for a consultation. A better night’s sleep is one phone call away.
