The Dangers of Sleep Apnea and How We Can Help!

Most of us know what it’s like to experience tiredness throughout the day. The afternoon slump hits and we’re all in dire need of a nap or a coffee break. But what if your tiredness is more than just an average daily experience? Your symptoms could be a sign of sleep apnea. According to The National Sleep Foundation, more than 18 million adults living in America are affected by the disorder – making it extremely common. That’s why we want to discuss the dangers of sleep apnea and how we can help.

Read More on Sleep Apnea from the American Sleep Apnea Organization.

What is Sleep Apnea?

According to Mayo Clinic, sleep apnea is when your breathing starts and stops throughout the night, with a 10-second stop in breathing. There are three types of sleep apnea:

  • Central – This type of sleep apnea happens because your brain isn’t sending the correct signals to your muscles to control your breathing throughout the sleep cycle.
  • Obstructive – This is the most common form of sleep apnea and happens because your throat muscles are relaxing. This can cause low levels of oxygen and extreme levels of tiredness.
  • Complex – This is a combination of both types of sleep apnea, central and obstructive.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Are you accustomed to hearing others criticize your snoring when you sleep? Snoring is often a major indicator of sleep apnea, but let’s look at a few other signs and symptoms:

  • Snoring or wheezing
  • Difficulty staying awake and paying attention when awake
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia
  • Headaches in the morning
  • Dry mouth in the morning
  • Gasping for air when sleeping

Dangers of Sleep Apnea

If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to more serious health complications, such as:

  • High blood pressure
  • Stroke
  • Heart arrhythmia
  • Depression
  • Heart attack
  • Chronic pain
  • Acid reflux

Treatment and Testing for Sleep Apnea

At Adams Dental, we want to give our patients the best care and conduct testing for obstructive sleep apnea by using an at-home sleep testing device called a MediByte.

Learn about Adam’s Dental Sleep Apnea Testing and Treatment Options here.

The MediByte will record your levels of snoring and sleep apnea. Home sleep testing is a recognized procedure for the diagnosis and/or monitoring of sleep disordered breathing. Devices, such as the MediByte offered by Dr. Roberts at Adams Dental Group, help detect Obstructive Sleep Apnea in most people. If you meet the following criteria, you can take a home sleep test.

  • You are between 18 and 65 years of age
  • You snore or are at risk of mild, moderate or severe sleep apnea
  • You have no other medical conditions
  • Schedule a consultation with Dr. Roberts for complete details

Read More on Treatment and Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea from Mayo Clinic.

Many sleep tests are also conducted in a laboratory. If you think you or a loved one may be experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, it’s important to talk with your doctor about testing and treatment options.

Once the type of sleep apnea is established, there are multiple forms of treatment, such as:

  • Weight loss
  • Use of an oral appliance
  • Use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine
  • Surgical procedure

To find out if you have Sleep Apnea or are putting your overall health at risk, due to interrupted sleep and snoring, please contact Adams Dental in Kansas City, KS to schedule your consultation.

Local dentist, Travis A. Roberts and his experienced, friendly team at Adams Dental Group offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the Kansas City, KS area. We have two locations that are conveniently located and offer appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At Adams Dental Group, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to specialty procedures, including dental implants, dentures, endodontic or root canal treatment, teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at our West location (913) 296-8030 or our East location (913) 621-3113 to schedule an appointment.

November 12th, 2019

Posted In: Sleep Apnea

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