Save More than a Good Night’s Sleep with Your Westchester NY Dentist
Snoring is an extremely common issue, although it’s certainly one of the most annoying! Hundreds of patients complain about their partners snoring so loudly during the night that they’re unable to sleep, but never take the situation seriously further than a simple annoyance. Unfortunately, all of these people who are plagued with snores can be suffering from sleep apnea, a problem that can become worse if ignored. Your Westchester NY dentist explains the importance of addressing sleep apnea and what the next steps are.
The definition of apnea is when a sleeping person stops breathing for 10 or more seconds. Obstructive sleep apnea is a lack of proper breaths during sleep, reducing the airflow through their throat and nose, causing the patient to either move into a lighter stage of sleep or wake up completely. This can cause the patient to become stressed, moody and exhausted during the daytime because of their lack of sleep. Even if they don’t completely wake up, they’re not in a deep enough sleep to energize their body, so they’re still tired when they wake up, no matter how long they were “asleep.”
If this goes untreated for long periods of time, crankiness and exhaustion aren’t the only problems that arise. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are also at risk of high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks. Worst case scenario, OSA can even lead to a premature death.
Thankfully, there are some solutions to treating sleep apnea. There is a nasal mask (CPAP) that works to keep your nasal passages open while you’re sleeping. Although many patients may not think to go to their dentist to treat sleep apnea, there are oral appliances that they can receive that will reposition the tongue or lower jawbone, lowering the chances of any obstruction.
If you believe you’re suffering from sleep apnea, contact your Westchester NY dentist to discuss this issue further. Call our office at (914) 939-2132 or click here to request an appointment or consultation online.