Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by brief but repetitive periods where a person stops breathing in their sleep. There are two forms of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea is by far the commonest as it affects nearly 20 million Americans. When you hear the term sleep apnea, it’s in reference to the obstructive type.

How Do You Know if You Have Sleep Apnea?

People don’t usually know when they have a problem with their sleep, and they might attribute it to something else. The first indication is when a roommate or someone sleeping in the same bed says you have chronic loud snoring. Other things you might complain of are excessive sleepiness during the day, the inability to concentrate, feeling tired all the time, and having trouble with memory and learning.

If you notice any of these, then come visit us at The Smile Designer of Spring, Spring, TX, so we can perform a thorough assessment. The sooner we treat your sleep apnea, the sooner you can return to living a healthier life.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep apnea is usually due to a narrow airway, or one that keeps closing during sleep. Treatment is based on keeping your airway open so you can continuously breathe throughout the night.

The first choice and most effective treatment option is continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP). CPAP is a device that comes with a mask. You put the mask over your mouth and nose while you sleep and it’ll keep blowing air, gently, to keep your airway open.

While CPAP is the most highly recommended treatment, there are some other options as well. Surgery might be recommended to remove tissue blocking your airway like enlarged tonsils. Appliances that adjust the position of your tongue are also available.

Weight loss can be curative in overweight and obese individuals. Instead of using CPAP for the rest of your life, losing weight can significantly improve the quality of your sleep and life. Avoiding alcohol and cigarettes are also encouraged as they can worsen your apnea.

The problem with sleep apnea is its detection. Without a partner to notice that you snore and stop breathing in your sleep, you might attribute your daytime fatigue to other things. Here at The Smile Designer of Spring, Spring, TX, we can perform the necessary tests to assess your fatigue and sleepiness. Once sleep apnea is diagnosed, we can help you with a treatment plan tailored for you.

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