What Is Sleep Apnea?
Patients with sleep apnea have pauses in their breathing as they sleep. These pauses are enough to wake them up so they can start breathing normally again, but they don’t fully wake up. This can occur dozens, even hundreds of times a night, but because they don’t fully wake up they don’t even realize it happens; they just feel tired the next day and don’t know why.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea. In OSA, the muscles in the back of the throat relax and the airway becomes blocked. Besides excessive sleepiness during the day, there are other symptoms of sleep apnea, some of which your partner may have to help you identify:
- Gasping for air while sleeping
- Loud snoring
- Irritability
- Morning headache
- Morning dry mouth
- Reduced focus
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
There are several different options for treating sleep apnea. It may be as simple as making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or avoiding drinking or eating too close to bedtime.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are a common treatment. CPAP machines work by delivering pressurized air that prevents the collapse of throat tissue so that air can get into the throat as it should. Oral appliance therapy is another option – this involves a simple piece of plastic that you wear over your teeth as you sleep to reposition your tongue and jaw to open your airway. Surgery may also be recommended.
If you feel tired all the time, sleep apnea may be the problem. Nevada Sinus Relief can determine why you are having trouble sleeping and then can help you to find relief so that you can finally get the good sleep you need! Contact the office in Las Vegas, NV, for a consultation. Call (702) 213-6468 for an appointment today!
