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More than 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, which means that 3-10% of the population, both children and adults, aren’t getting the rest they need. Mandana Mozayeni Orthodontics in Chardon, Cuyahoga Falls, Cleveland, and Middleburg Heights, Ohio, Mandana Mozayeni, DDS, MSD, can make it easier for you to breathe at night. If you have sleep apnea and you want to sleep more restfully, call the office or request an appointment online today.
Sleep Apnea Q & A
What is sleep apnea?
If you or a family member is a known snorer, there may be more at play than a simple disturbance of everyone’s sleep. With obstructive sleep apnea, you stop breathing throughout the night, often dozens of times, which is caused when your airways relax and obstruct your breathing. This action forces your brain to wake you up each time, so you can clear your airways and resume breathing.
The bottom line is that, if you have sleep apnea, you’re not getting the restorative sleep you need (and your housemates might not, either).
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
It can be very difficult to diagnose your own sleep apnea since you’re not conscious of your breathing while you sleep. The odds are that a member of your household is more aware of the situation, listening to you stop breathing and then resume again loudly as your brain wakes you time and again.
If you’ve been alerted to this and you’re also feeling any of the following, you should get checked out for sleep apnea:
- Fatigue during the day
- Headaches
- Waking with a dry mouth or a sore throat
- Problems sleeping or staying asleep
Everyone snores from time to time, but if your snoring is persistent and you’re not as alert during the day, see your doctor about sleep apnea.
What causes sleep apnea?
There are several factors that put you more at risk for obstructive sleep apnea, including:
- Weight issues
- Sex — Men are twice as likely to develop sleep apnea
- Age — It’s more prevalent the older you get, although children can have it, too
- A family history of a sleep disorder
- Structurally narrow airways
There’s no single cause of sleep apnea, but there are contributing circumstances that put you more at risk. More important than how you developed sleep apnea are the steps you can take to address the sleep disorder.
How is sleep apnea treated?
One of the most effective treatments for obstructive sleep apnea is a device called a CPAP, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. The device fits into your mouth to keep your airways open, which is where an orthodontist like Dr. Mozayeni comes in. Dr. Mozayeni fits you for the CPAP, ensuring that you’re comfortable and able to sleep through the night more soundly.
If you’d like to learn more about treating your sleep apnea, call Mandana Mozayeni Orthodontics or request an appointment online today.