Why should you be alarmed by sleep apnea? It is important to understand that people who suffer this condition are being robbed of the ability to fully rest. Even if you do not remember waking up, your body is forced out of rest to remove blockages to your airways, meaning your sleep cycle is frequently interrupted. That poor rest can cause you to suffer from grogginess, and make it harder for you to focus during the day. It can also aggravate issues with depression, and raise your risk for suffering a heart attack, or a stroke. If you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, this condition may be treatable through an oral appliance your dentist can provide.
How Do You Separate Snoring From Sleep Apnea?
How is sleep apnea distinguished from snoring? A person can produce snoring sounds when they have their airways partly blocked by soft tissue while they sleep. Sleep apnea sufferers spend more time with their airways cut off. Your body has to “wake” itself to address the prolonged blockage. This experience, being forced to awaken to take care of breathing troubles, breaks the sleep cycle, so you fail to adequately benefit from a night’s sleep.
Talking To Your Dentist When Something Seems Wrong With Your Oral Health
Bringing up something like a snoring problem during a routine visit to your dentist can lead to real help. Your dentist can offer a snore guard to help you rest while making less noise. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, your dentist’s help can spare you from relying on a CPAP machine. Dental visits are about more than just finding out if you have any cavities – regular visits mean having attention and care for a number of possible oral health issues.
