Do you snore all night and wake up feeling ill-rested? You could be suffering from sleep apnea, a potentially serious condition that affects over 25 million Americans, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The vast majority of sleep apnea cases are left untreated, which can pose risks to your health and leave you wrestling with sleep apnea’s unwanted symptoms. Contacting our Blue Bell sleep apnea specialist or a sleep medicine expert near you can lead to your diagnosis and treatment, so you can focus on the important things in life.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
Are you unsure of the symptoms of sleep apnea? Although there are a few different kinds of sleep apnea, the most common signs include:
- Dry mouth
- Interruptions in breathing
- Struggling for air during sleep
- Daytime sleepiness
- Loud snoring
These are just a few of the most common indicators of sleep apnea. However, it’s important to remember not every loud snorer has sleep apnea. If you suspect you or a loved one may have the condition, consult with your doctor about your symptoms and treatment options.
Why Early Intervention Matters : Starting at Age 3
The instruction to wait and see if a child "grows out of it" is outdated and potentially harmful. In fact, untreated airway issues can lead to permanent changes in facial structure, cardiovascular strain, and stunted cognitive development. This is why we advocate for screening and treatment starting as young as age three.
Between the ages of three and twelve, a child’s face and jaw are growing rapidly. This window of time presents a unique opportunity. By using non-invasive, specialized oral appliances, we can gently guide the growth of the jaw and expand the dental arch. This creates more room for the tongue and opens the airway naturally.
Addressing these issues early at our Blue Bell office offers profound benefits:
- Proper Facial Development: encouraging the jaws to grow forward and wide, resulting in a balanced facial profile.
- Elimination of Need for Future Surgery: Correcting the airway now can prevent the need for invasive jaw surgery or extractions later in life.
- Improved Quality of Life: Parents often report immediate improvements in their child's mood, energy levels, and school performance once sleep is restored.
Why Treatment is Essential
If left untreated, sleep apnea can seriously disrupt your daily life. In addition, the severe health risks it poses to your breathing should be addressed. Some of the additional complications associated with sleep apnea are:
- Heart problems: Sleep apnea puts a strain on your cardiovascular system because of the sudden drops that occur in your blood oxygen levels during the nighttime. This can increase your risk of high blood pressure and heart attack.
- Interaction with medications: Because those with sleep apnea have breathing problems, it can pose issues when interacting with certain medications or anesthesia. If you must undergo surgery, be sure to communicate your condition to your doctor.
- Daytime sleepiness: Patients with sleep apnea wake repeatedly during the night, making it difficult to experience deep, restful sleep. Therefore, one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is excessive tiredness and irritability during the day. This can be dangerous in the workplace or while driving a motor vehicle, so it’s important to be cautious and seek treatment.
- Social problems: When you have sleep apnea, chances are you are also constantly disrupting any partner, family, or roommates who sleep near you.
- Other risk factors: With sleep apnea, you are also at risk for a number of other health conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, liver issues, and more.
Because of the vast range of long-term risks associated with sleep apnea, it’s important to seek treatment if you suspect you may have the condition. By working alongside professionals to mitigate the impact of sleep apnea on your daily routine, you can reclaim your life.
What treatment options are available?
If you’re ready to begin your journey toward sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, see a medical or dental professional. After performing some tests, we will have a better idea of how best to assist you. You will have to discuss treatment options with a skilled practitioner, as recommendations vary widely depending on the severity of your case.
These may include lifestyle changes, therapies, or surgeries. One simple solution is an oral appliance, which your dentist can provide you with. This mouthpiece is designed to keep your airway open during sleep and sometimes to bring your lower jaw forward.