If you’re a heavy snorer—or maybe even worse, you share a room or a bed with someone who is—you know how distracting it can be. Snoring makes it hard to get a good night’s sleep, but sometimes there’s a straightforward solution. Using a sleep apnea device can reduce your snoring and improve your health and sleep quality.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
People who suffer from untreated sleep apnea will frequently and abruptly stop breathing while they sleep. These breathing interruptions are short, but significant enough to disrupt your natural sleep cycle. Treating this sleep apnea is simple, and it will have lasting positive effects.
How Do I Know if I Have Sleep Apnea?
As mentioned above, snoring is one of the most noticeable symptoms of sleep apnea. It’s also one of the symptoms most likely to be corrected with sleep apnea treatment, especially a sleep apnea or snoring device. However, snoring isn’t the only sleep apnea symptom to look for. Keep an eye out for the following:
- Heavy snoring.
- Frequently waking up in the night.
- Regularly waking up with a dry mouth or throat.
- Feeling tired during the day, despite having a full night’s sleep.
- Frequent headaches, especially in the morning.
- Difficulty focusing on normal tasks throughout the day.
If you’re experiencing several of these symptoms at once, it’s a good idea to talk to a medical professional about how sleep apnea treatment can help you. We think you’ll be impressed by what a difference even a small dental appliance to help your breathing can make to your sleep quality.
It also helps to know which groups of people are most likely to be affected by sleep apnea, and as a result, will be most likely to benefit from sleep apnea and snoring devices. Be particularly aware of sleep apnea symptoms if you are in any of the following categories:
- Men.
- Elderly people.
- Overweight people.
- People with a family history of sleep apnea.
- Smokers.
- Heavy drinkers, especially those who drink soon before going to bed.
Keep these guidelines in mind, but remember that the only way to know for sure whether you’re experiencing sleep apnea is to receive a professional diagnosis. From there, you can get sleep apnea treatment that will dramatically improve your health and sleep habits!
Is It Important To Treat Sleep Apnea?
Some people might view sleep apnea as more of an inconvenience than a health problem, but it’s important to remember that sleep apnea is more than just snoring and poor sleep. If left untreated, sleep apnea can have significant health effects, including:
- High blood pressure. Without an appliance to regulate airflow, the sudden drops in oxygen levels that come from sleep apnea can cause increased blood pressure.
- Type two diabetes. Untreated sleep apnea increases your risk of developing insulin resistance, and type two diabetes as a result.
- Heart disease. Unpredictable oxygen levels can increase the strain on your heart and the risk of heart problems. An appliance can even out your oxygen flow.
- Medical complications. If you need to start a new medication or undergo surgery, the unpredictable breathing that comes with sleep apnea can cause complications.
- Liver problems. People living with sleep apnea who aren’t actively treating it are more likely to experience nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and liver scarring.
It’s no exaggeration to say that treating your sleep apnea now will do more than reduce snoring. Sleep apnea treatment can significantly improve your overall health in the future and reduce your risk of several chronic diseases.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
There are different treatments for sleep apnea, depending on the severity of your condition and your personal needs. We’ll help you determine the best method for you!
Oral Appliance
A sleep apnea oral appliance is a mouthguard that is worn during the night. This mouthguard gently widens the airway, which makes it easier to breathe and much less likely that you’ll be abruptly woken up in the night.
Oral appliances are a great solution for mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea. They are small, portable, and convenient, but still manage to have long-lasting effects!
CPAP Machine
If you are experiencing more severe sleep apnea, a CPAP machine might be a better fit for your needs. A CPAP machine consists of a face mask that is attached to a machine that sits next to your bed.
Wearing this mask at night will ensure that you’re getting enough oxygen and a good night’s sleep. While the CPAP machine is less convenient than an oral appliance, it can treat a wider range of sleep apnea patients.
Take Back Your Nights
Don’t let sleep apnea keep you from enjoying your nights and sleeping well! Contact us today if you think you or a loved one might be suffering from sleep apnea. We’ll get you the treatment you need to sleep through the night again.
