Sleep Apnea
Chicago, IL
 Getting a good night's sleep is important. It gives your body the time it needs to rest and repair itself. When you don't sleep well, you feel groggy. It may be difficult to concentrate, and you may find yourself more irritable than normal. Usually, getting a good night's sleep the next night helps to restore normalcy, and allow you to feel more yourself. For millions of Americans, getting this much-needed rest seems almost impossible. When you consistently wake up day after day feeling completely exhausted, no matter what time you go to bed the night before, it can take a toll, affecting your mental, emotional, and physical health. If this is happening to you, you may be living with a condition called sleep apnea. Medhat Dental Excellence is here to help.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that affects the quality of your sleep. As you sleep, your body goes through several cycles, all of which must be completed to wake up rested and refreshed. When you have sleep apnea, you wake up several times throughout the night (apneic events), interrupting these sleep cycles. One of the biggest problems is that you don't even know that you're waking up, which can make feeling exhausted in the morning so much more confusing.
Sleep apnea ranges in severity from mild (5 to 14 apneic events per sleeping hour) to severe (more than 30 apneic events per sleeping hour). There are three types:
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Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. The interruption in your breathing is caused by a blockage (your tongue or other oral tissues) and is the most common type.
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Central sleep apnea. Your breathing is stopped due to a failure of communication between your brain and the muscles that control your breathing.
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Complex sleep apnea. Also called mixed sleep apnea, this type of sleep apnea is a mixture of both OSA and central sleep apnea. |
What are the Symptoms?
There are several symptoms that can point toward sleep apnea:
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Chronic snoring (which often goes unnoticed unless someone points it out to you).
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Excessive daytime sleepiness.
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Falling asleep during the day. This can sometimes happen behind the wheel of your car.
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Trouble concentrating.
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Feeling irritable, or difficulty controlling your emotions.
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Your health may also be affected. High blood pressure is common with sleep apnea. |
How Sleep Apnea is Diagnosed
Sleep apnea needs to be diagnosed by a sleep professional before you can receive treatment. These individuals are experts in sleep apnea (and other sleep related disorders) and can not only diagnose your issues but help you to manage your treatment. Diagnosing sleep apnea, and many other sleep disorders involve a sleep study.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
There are a few different types of treatment available for sleep apnea:
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Losing weight. Sometimes losing excess weight is all that is needed to stop sleep apnea.
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Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This is a common treatment that involves wearing a mask over your nose. A machine delivers air while you sleep, helping to keep your airway open.
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Oral appliance therapy. For mild to moderate sleep apnea, we can provide you with oral appliance therapy. This involves the use of an oral device that sits over your top teeth, similar to a mouth guard. It is a custom fit device that holds your jaw in proper alignment, preventing it and your oral tissues from sliding back while you sleep.
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Oral surgery. In severe cases, oral surgery may be required. There are a few different types of procedures, from removing excess tissue to moving your jaw forward. The type of surgery used depends on your specific circumstances. |
If you wake up every morning feeling completely drained, even if you thought you slept the whole night through, it might be sleep apnea. Contact Medhat Dental Excellence today at (773) 774-4611 to find out how we can help. |
