Houston Dentist Patient Services
Sleep Apnea
The Facts about Sleep Apnea
In Greek, apnea literally means "without breath." Sleep apnea presents itself in three forms, central, obstructive, and mixed, but the most common type is obstructive. All three types can be defined by not breathing well enough or regularly enough to keep blood-oxygen saturation at normal levels. This hiccup in breathing can happen again and again, sometimes hundreds of times in a single hour. And every time, your brain says, "Wake up and breathe!" The result? You don't sleep soundly, which can cause a host of problems, including fatigue, inability to focus, grumpiness, forgetfulness, and other more serious conditions, like high blood pressure, acid reflux, stroke, weight gain, impotency, and headaches.
Types of Sleep Apnea
If your brain neglects to tell your body to breathe while you're asleep, you have central sleep apnea. If structures in your mouth and throat get in the way of airflow while you're snoozing, obstructive sleep apnea is the issue. If you seem to have both of these problems, you suffer from mixed sleep apnea.
Who Is Prone to Sleep Apnea?
About one in four adults have sleep apnea, and the older you get, the more prone you will be to this sleep disorder. Statistically, people who are male, overweight, have diabetes, or have high blood pressure are more prone to the condition. About 40% of people who snore are sleep apnea sufferers.
How Can a Dentist Help Me?
First, you need to be diagnosed at a sleep center, where you'll have a polysomnogram. Plan on sleeping over! The test will record your brain waves, breathing pattern, motions, blood-oxygen saturation, and heart rate. The polysomnogram is painless and doesn't require injections. We'll use all this information to find out whether you have sleep apnea, and if so, how severe it is.
Then we can help you.
We may suggest a CPAP, which is a continuous positive airway pressure device, to keep you breathing normally and sleeping soundly through the night. Many folks, about 60%, don't like the CPAP. Another option is a simple oral appliance that you slip into your mouth at bedtime. The appliance slightly pushes your lower jaw forward to create a better airflow path while you sleep.
Good Night
You deserve to sleep soundly, every night. With a CPAP or oral appliance, Dr. Frazar can help you get the rest you deserve without pain or surgery. Call today for a consultation, and start enjoying a better life tomorrow!
