If You Are Not Sure If You Have Sleep Apnea, Here Are Some Warning Signs to Pay Attention To

Millions of people in America have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. While so many people seek treatment, a significant portion of the population either choose not to seek treatment or do not realize they have sleep apnea.

Did you know your local dentist can likely help you with sleep apnea? Dr. David Lamothe and the team at Smyrna Dental and Headache Center in Smyrna, Georgia, are here to help with your sleep apnea and diagnose this problematic disorder for those who may not know they have it.

Sleep apnea is a disorder where your breathing becomes interrupted during your sleep. When untreated, sleep apnea can lead to many detrimental health problems. When you visit Smyrna Dental and Headache Center, our team can help treat your sleep apnea symptoms so that you can get a recuperative and restful night’s sleep.

Knowing the symptoms and understanding that you need to seek treatment is one thing, but what if you don’t know that you have sleep apnea? Read on to learn about the warning signs of sleep apnea.

The Forms of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea encompasses three specific forms of the disorder. The three types of sleep apnea are obstructive, central, and mixed.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when your breathing or airflow becomes blocked during sleep. This blockage occurs when your airway becomes obstructed by relaxed muscles, your tongue, or other body tissues. This can interrupt your breathing for 10 seconds or longer, several times an hour, for the duration of your sleep. These periods where your breathing is interrupted are called hypopneas and are dangerous because they block the intake of necessary oxygen. OSA appears more frequently as you age and is more common in obese individuals. This is the most common form of sleep apnea diagnosed in patients.

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is when the brain stops sending signals to the muscles in your body, which are responsible for controlling breathing. CSA is not as common as OSA and could result in long-term health issues, including heart failure or stroke.

Mixed sleep apnea occurs when your brain stops sending signals to the muscles required for breathing, followed by an obstructive apnea event. To be considered a mixed apnea event, the CSA portion should account for less than 80 percent of the entire event.

The Warning Signs

How one experiences sleep apnea varies from person to person. However, here are some of the common side effects you should look out for when determining if you are impacted by sleep apnea:

• Snoring
• Night sweats
• Choking, coughing, or gasping during sleep
• Forgetfulness
• Dry mouth or sore throat when waking up
• Depression or anxiety
• Daytime fatigue
• Chronic headaches, especially in the morning
• Restlessness
• Frequently waking up
• Moodiness
• Sexual dysfunction
• Concentration difficulties
• TMJ or bruxism symptoms

If you believe you may be suffering from sleep apnea, it is important to get a medical professional involved immediately. This can be your primary care physician or your local dentist, who can often provide a nighttime oral appliance that you can wear to assist with sleep apnea.

Please call (678) 374-3764 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lamothe.

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