Comfortable Sleep Apnea Solutions
Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that can have dangerous consequences if left untreated. It occurs when your airway becomes blocked while you sleep, causing a temporary pause in breathing. The continuous loss of oxygen can make it difficult to function and leave you feeling exhausted.
While some patients initially try the CPAP machine, approximately 45 percent of patients never start using it or stop within the first year. Patients complain that it’s too loud or uncomfortable and seek alternative methods for treatment.
For patients with mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea, an oral appliance is a convenient and effective way to treat your condition. It’s noiseless and can fit in the palm of your hand. An oral appliance will allow you and your sleeping partner to get the quality sleep you need for energized days ahead.
How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Health
Sleep apnea and your health negatively influence each other and can create a downward spiral if left untreated. For instance, sleep apnea can cause weight gain, and weight gain can lead to sleep apnea and affect the severity of the condition.
When your breathing stops temporarily, your blood pressure rises and falls accordingly. These changes seem subtle, but over time can cause other issues and have long term health consequences. Sleep apnea has been linked to conditions such as:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease.
Sleep apnea can have immediate effects on your health and cause patients to feel exhausted, irritable, and have difficulty concentrating. When you’re not getting the quality sleep you need. It can damage your health, affect your relationships, career, and your quality of life.
Seeking treatment is imperative to your well-being and Dr. Winkelmann wants to help. At The CPAP Alternative, our treatments are designed with our patients in mind and yield effective results. Just wear the oral appliance, and experience the benefits of a healthy night of rest.
Sleep Apnea & Snoring
Many people believe that patients who have sleep apnea also snore. While it’s a common symptom, the two can also occur independently of each other. Not everyone who has sleep apnea snores and not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
If you sleep with a person who snores, you know how it can impact the health of the relationship and your well-being. Dr. Winkelmann offers treatments for both sleep apnea and snoring. After reviewing your sleep study, he’ll examine your mouth and throat to determine the most effective oral appliance based on your unique condition.
Don’t let sleep apnea and snoring control your life. A sleep study can diagnose your condition so we can start treatment immediately. Your road to a better night’s sleep is just around the corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the side effects of using a CPAP machine?
In addition to being a noisy inconvenience to you and your sleeping partner, there are various side effects that make it difficult to continue treatment with a CPAP machine. Side effects may include:
- Mask leak
- Dry, stuffy nose, or nosebleeds
- Skin irritations
- Dry mouth
You’ll also have to regularly clean the mask and ensure you have a secure fit so the device works effectively. We find that the CPAP machine doesn’t fit into the lifestyle of many of our patients and that they prefer something more portable and easier to maintain like a customized oral appliance.
Why does sleep apnea occur?
Sleep apnea occurs when you can’t breathe while you’re asleep — most often, this is the result of an obstruction in your airway. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a person’s throat or mouth shape and any additional tissue that causes the airway to be blocked.
While you may be able to breathe during the day, your throat and mouth muscles relax when you sleep. If you can’t breathe while you’re asleep, your brain will trigger your body to momentarily wake up and resume airflow.
Though you may wake up many times throughout the night, it’s possible you won’t remember any of those instances.
What is the relationship between sleep apnea and obesity?
About 70 percent of patients with obstructive sleep apnea are also obese. In adults, there is a strong correlation between excess weight and obstructive sleep apnea. For every increase in BMI, there is a 14 percent increased risk of developing sleep apnea. With an increase in weight, there’s an increase in OSA severity.
If you’re suffering from sleep apnea symptoms, schedule a consultation at our office by calling (984) 237-1013. During your consultation, Dr. Winkelmann will review your symptoms, examine your mouth and throat, and determine if you’ll benefit from a sleep study. Once diagnosed, we can begin treatment right away.
How can I naturally treat sleep apnea?
There are several lifestyle modifications that can improve your sleep apnea symptoms. However, we recommend them in conjunction with trusted methods. Natural sleep apnea remedies include:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Regular exercise
- Avoid alcohol, smoking, and sedatives
- Positional therapy
We understand that no two patients are the same. If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Winkelmann will create a customized treatment plan including the use of an oral appliance and suggest lifestyle modifications that will benefit you the most so we can optimize your results.
We’ll Put Your Worries to Rest
Sleep apnea and snoring can affect nearly every aspect of your life and leave you feeling exhausted. If you have sleep apnea, schedule a consultation with Dr. Winkelmann by calling (984) 237-1013. The sooner you begin treatment, the sooner you can begin experiencing the benefits of a healthy night of rest.
Dr. Craig Winkelmann is an experienced sleep dentist. In fact, he’s received the prestigious honor of being named a Diplomate Dentist by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He’s been selected as one of America’s Top Dentists eight times in the last ten years. The foundation of his practice is built on the trust and rapport he strives to build and maintain with his patients.