If the entire household is letting you know how loud your snoring is it could be time to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician for obstructive sleep apnea.
Dr. Dean Garcia, Dr. Ryan Conkle and Dr. Jeff Buizastrow explain that it could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.
A sleep test either conducted using a home system or at a sleep center clinic, will determine if you are suffering from the potentially deadly disorder, obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Can Be Dangerous
According to dental sleep medicine practice Saddleback Dentistry in Laguna Hills, not everyone who snores has obstructive sleep apnea. This is even more reason to schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist.
In fact, the only real way to find out if you have OSA, a condition that causes you to wake up gasping for breath, is to schedule an appointment.
Firstly, you will never hear yourself snore if you aren’t recording yourself. Secondly, you probably don’t have the faintest idea that you wake up gasping for breath at least thirty times every hour.
Although you may have suspected that you, “had something going on,” and never had it evaluated because you, “Did your research,” the sad fact is your ignoring it could lead to worsening health problems.
Sleeping Disorders Cause Other Health Problems
According to Dr. Dean Garcia, Dr. Ryan Conkle and Dr. Jeff Buizastrow OSA often leads to heart issues including sudden heart attack.
Strokes and worsening diabetes symptoms are also problems that occur for people who have obstructive sleep apnea.
These are just more reasons to find out if your snoring is a sign of something more sinister.
In addition to snoring you may have OSA if you:
- Wake up abruptly gasping for breath
- Have cessations in breathing that are witnessed by someone else
- Wake up with a dry mouth
- Suffer from neck and headaches
- Experience mood swings
- Have a loss of libido
- Deal with insomnia
- Have problems staying focused
- Suffer from bouts of depression
- Have problems staying awake
Any of the above issues, even just one, should be reason enough to see your doctor. Once you do you can look at alternatives for OSA treatment.
Not Always CPAP
CPAP therapy consists of a hose that is connected to your face. Both of those are connected to a machine that forces the throat open. For some it isn’t the greatest therapy and that is where OAT or oral appliance therapy comes in.
Talk to Dr. Dean Garcia, Dr. Ryan Conkle and Dr. Jeff Buizastrow about oral appliance therapy. It’s an amazing treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
Get diagnosed and contact the team from Saddleback Dentistry today.
