Sleep Apnea is many times an unrecognized medical problem. Mild forms of sleep apnea can simply be loud snoring. This usually affects the bed partner and those around you, with the increased noise.
Patients with sleep apnea have their posterior pharynx (throat) become blocked while sleeping. This can lead to gasping or snorting in your sleep. Patients can wake up tired after a full nights’ sleep, and have problems with daytime sleepiness, and falling asleep in the day while driving their car. Many times these patients have a chronic headache, problems with their memory and concentration, and may be cranky or short-tempered with their behavior.
Patients with sleep apnea have excessive daytime sleepiness, chronic hypertension and ischemic heart disease. They also have a greater incidence for having a stroke. Patients with OSA also have an increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmia during sleep, leading to sudden death.
It is important to get treated, to have a better nights rest and avoid daytime sleepiness. Treatment is also necessary to prevent the serious medical problems caused from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The first step in possible treatments for sleep apnea involves an accurate diagnosis. As an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, I am uniquely qualified to evaluate the teeth and the patients’ bite, along with evaluation of the tongue size and size of the posterior airway space. This diagnosis may also include x-ray imagining with a Panorex x-ray, cephalometric x-ray and analysis, and Cone Beam Scan. An overnight screening pulse oximetry evaluation may also be performed.
I also work with Pulmonary Sleep Medicine Specialists. This medical evaluation including formal overnight sleep study may also be performed.
Do You Have Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which a patient experiences sudden stops and starts in breathing. It can be a simple condition that disrupts sleep from time to time, or it could be a potentially dangerous one if the breathing pauses last more than a few minutes and occur often.
Having sleep apnea results in a poor quality of sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. It is often undiagnosed, since the symptoms occur during sleep. However, should your family, friends, or household notice loud noises or choking sounds during sleep, you may have sleep apnea.
If you think you or a loved one has sleep apnea, consult with Crayton R. Walker, DDS, MD today. We provide professional sleep apnea treatments in Salt Lake City to help you achieve a restful sleep and avoid excessive daytime sleepiness.
What You Need to Know About Sleep Apnea
There are three main types of sleep apnea you should know about:
- Obstructive sleep apnea, in which the patient experiences repetitive breathing pauses during sleep, associated with obstructed upper airway and reduction in blood oxygen saturation.
- Central sleep apnea, in which the patient’s brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles the control breathing, resulting in repeated stops and starts in breathing.
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome, also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, in which the patient has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Loud snoring, shortness of breath, or choking that wakes you up from your slumber and excessive daytime sleepiness are signs you should not ignore. Consult with a professional to prevent your condition from getting worse and to have a restful sleep.
Depending on the severity of your condition, Crayton R. Walker, DDS, MD will select a treatment that works best for you. We work with Pulmonary Sleep Medicine Specialists, so patients in Salt Lake City are assured of quality sleep apnea treatments.
We begin your treatment with an accurate diagnosis, and afterwards, can either simply recommend lifestyle changes and oral appliances, or suggest a surgical procedure or therapies to deal with abnormal airway pressure problems.
Look forward to better nights with our sleep apnea treatment. Salt Lake City patients have been trusting us with a wide range of problems and issues, from wisdom teeth to dental implants, cosmetic facial surgery to corrective jaw surgery. Call us today to discuss your options. Find more about sleep apnea myoms-sleepapnea.