Are you seeing groggy-eyed mornings as a daily occurrence? You might believe the solution is to just go to bed at a decent hour to get a few extra hours of sleep, right? Although if you’re like the other 25 million Individuals in the U.S. who suffer from sleep apnea, extra sleep won’t help much. That’s because even though you might believe you’re asleep, your body actually still functions as if you were awake.
Sleep apnea happens when you are unconscious and your body is having difficulty breathing. It occurs mostly when the brain has trouble transmitting the proper commands to the breathing-controlled muscles. But, for most, it happens because the throat muscles weaken and the airway collapses.
Therefore, your body has to keep waking up during the night for you to basically keep breathing. You might not always notice this because you don’t wake up completely, at the same time your body barely sleeps during the night at the rejuvenating rate of rapid eye movement (REM).
Signs and Symptoms of the Condition
So what other symptoms of sleep apnea can you show without knowing you suffer from it other than having poor energy in the morning? Other signs include snoring loud enough to annoy your partner and having brief episodes of involuntary gasping while you’re sleeping. Check with your sleeping partner if you’ve recently experienced either of these side effects.
There are several other signs that you may recognize. These may be the following:
- Difficulty sleeping at night and/or staying awake during the day
- Experiencing headaches or dry mouth upon waking
- Feeling irritable or having difficulty focusing while awake
A Less-Intrusive Treatment Option
A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine is often advised by your physician to keep the airway open while you sleep. Your cosmetic dentist may have a less invasive option to offer in Tustin, California, though. You can keep your muscles and jaws in proper alignment while sleeping with an oral appliance or “snore guard,” to ensure your airways are open.
Your apnea for sleep has already robbed you of many tranquil nights. With the choice of treatment that Dr. Craig Thiede provides, why would you want to let this issue bother you any longer? Contact our offices in Tustin, California to schedule an appointment.