If you have sleep apnea, the most frightening part of Halloween won’t be the costumes or the late-night horror movies; it will be the impact that the disorder could potentially have on your body if it isn’t dealt with quickly. It’s important to be aware of the consequences of sleep-disordered breathing as well as what treatment options are available. Here’s a quick look at sleep apnea and how you can make it less scary.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is characterized by episodes where your breathing temporarily stops while you’re asleep. There are multiple types of sleep apnea, but by far the most common kind is obstructive sleep apnea, which involves the airway becoming partially or fully blocked by relaxed muscles in your throat.
It’s possible to experience 5 to 30 sleep apnea episodes in a single hour. During each episode, your body will briefly awaken to restart breathing. Each awakening is very quick, so you may not remember them.
What are the Consequences of Untreated Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can cause you to feel excessively tired during the day, making it harder to focus while driving and increasing your risk of accidents. On top of that, the disorder is known to lead to elevated blood pressure, and it could put you at a higher risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other serious cardiovascular problems.
It’s not a good idea to wait for sleep apnea to go away on its own. In fact, the disorder is likely to grow even worse if it’s ignored for too long. As such, if you believe that you might be currently struggling with sleep apnea, you should take steps to have it diagnosed quickly.
How Can You Treat Sleep Apnea?
CPAP therapy is the most well-known form of sleep apnea treatment; it involves a machine that uses pressurized air to keep the airway open. Unfortunately, many people stop using their CPAP machines after a while. Some are unable to fall asleep due to the noise of the machine while others find that the mask used to deliver the pressurized air is too uncomfortable.
But even if CPAP isn’t right for you, there’s no need to fear; your dentist may have the answer in the form of oral appliance therapy. You will be given an oral appliance that stops the airway from closing by changing the position of the lower jaw. This will allow you to breathe comfortably throughout the night without having to worry about any noisy or bulky equipment.
Halloween can be the perfect time to put your fears of sleep apnea behind you. Get in touch with an expert today so that you can get your disorder under control and start enjoying truly restful nights again.
About the Author
Dr. Krunal Patel graduated from Pacific Dental College & Hospital in India, and he went on to study at the New York University College of Dentistry. He belongs to the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Association. He is very passionate about making sure his patients feel at ease during their appointments. His Spring House practice, NeoSmile Dental Care, can provide oral appliances for treating sleep apnea. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Patel, visit his website or call (215) 643-5220.
