If your snoring is keeping you and your partner awake at night, mostly your partner, it’s time to get to the bottom of things. Your San Diego dentist explains that what you’re dealing with could be sleep apnea.
While snoring is often temporary it can become chronic. If your snoring becomes chronic it’s time to schedule an appointment with your doctor for a sleep specialist referral.
Sleeping Disorders and Sleep Apnea
March 20 is National Sleep Apnea Awareness month. What does that mean for you? It means it’s time to take a close look at your sleeping patterns and the patterns of the people who sleep in your household.
If you live alone set up a camera and/or a recording device as this is one of the best ways to find out if you suffer from a sleeping disorder.
After you view your footage and discover the evidence it’s time to talk to your doctor about that specialist referral.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common disorder with 80 percent of those who have it not knowing they have it. That is a pretty large percentage.
If you sleep alone you could be part of that group as well. You will never know unless you find out.
Symptoms of OSA
- Loud Snoring
- Gasping while Sleeping
- Breathing Cessations
- Dry Mouth
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Mood Swings
- Depression
- Low Libido
- Headaches
- Problems Concentrating
- Insomnia
- Can’t Stay Awake During the Day
Pay Attention to the Sleep Apnea Signs
Again, if you have any of these issues see your primary care physician immediately. Getting to the bottom of the above symptoms helps prevent things from getting worse.
Getting worse means possible heart attack and stroke or Type II diabetes in the near future. Your dentist in San Diego explains that it could lead to COPD as well.
Because your brain is depleted of oxygen you could be dealing with chronic headaches and eventual stroke. If left untreated sleep apnea can literally be your cause of death.
How Your San Diego Dentist Can Help
If you are diagnosed with a sleeping disorder schedule an appointment with your sleep apnea dentist. Dr. Larsen is an oral appliance therapy provider who can come up with a plan to treat your disorder.
Oral appliance therapy is a customized solution that is perfect for people who have and can’t deal with a CPAP machine.
These cumbersome units are the most common form of treatment. With that being said they are also the biggest reason people abandon the therapy.
If you would like to learn more about oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea, call or send a direct message and schedule an appointment with your dentist in San Diego today.