Sleep Apnea Treatment Anaheim Ca
What exactly is sleep apnea?
Do you or a loved one suffer from excessive snoring? If so you probably suffer from sleep apnea a condition that affects millions of people. So exactly what is sleep apnea, what are its causes, how is it treated? These are all questions people have when they have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
To start sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder where the individual literally stops breathing for short periods, a few seconds or so throughout the night while sleeping. It is caused by the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open when you are trying to breathe The term apnea literally means a temporary cessation of breathing and when your airways are not ope while sleeping that is exactly what happens causing the person to suddenly wake up or to open the mouth and breathe in an effort to get more oxygen. This can be the cause of the snoring sound as you struggle to take in air you breath much harder than what is normal during sleep which in turn can cause the tissue in the throat and mouth to vibrate creating a snorting type sound.
Sleep apnea causes ?
Understanding the causes of sleep apnea and its symptoms. There are several causes to sleep apnea, according to web-MD the most common being excessive weight and obesity: however these are not the only causes. Additional causes include enlarged tonsils, a tumor or some other type of obstruction of the airway, even a severe overbite or a small jaw can cause sleep apnea. People who smoke or drink heavily or excessively can also be more at risk of developing sleep apnea.
Symptoms and side effects of sleep apnea. (Not everyone who snores has seep apnea)
The most common symptoms and side effects of sleep apnea are:
- Excessive loud snoring
- Daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Waking up more than two times throughout the night
- Irritability
- fatigue
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Stroke
Letting sleep apnea go untreated can not only cause a lower quality of life it can also contribute to or be the cause of a premature death. This is why it is so important to know the signs and to seel medical assistance to deal with the problem.
What are the treatment options?
Once you suspect that you have sleep apnea the first thing we recommend is to see a doctor or dentist like Smile Brite Dental Office in Anaheim that treats sleep apnea the first thing that will generally need to be done is a sleep test where your sleeping conditions are monitored and documented this may include visiting a sleep center over night to have a sleep study completed. Make sure to bring a list of all or any medications that you may taking as well on your first visit to the doctor. You may also want to contact your insurance provider to see if a referral is necessary for a sleep center visit.
Once the diagnosis has been made then the treatment plan can begin. In many cases the most common treatment recommendation is a CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure device). these machines can be cumbersome and for some difficult to actually fall asleep with, there are less obtrusinve treatments including laser reduction of the airway and uvula, this is where a laser is used to decrease the tissue in the throat and uvula opening up the airway, this treatment usually takes several visits for laser treatments until the airway is opened to the desired size. There are also dental appliances that can be used to re-position the tongue and lower jaw creating more space in the mouth and throat for air to travel through. Surgery on the upper airway to remove tissue in the airway and nasal and hypoglossal nerve surgically procedures can also be an option.
At Smile Brite Dental Office We have been treating patients who suffer from sleep apnea for over a decade and have been able to provide our patients with multiple options that best fit their needs. If you pr someone you know is suffering from sleep apnea call us at 714-776-3535 today and schedule a free consultation to see what options are available.
Contact Info
Smile Brite Dental
Naushil Desai, DMD
600 S. Euclid St,
Anaheim, CA 92802
Office Hours
Monday: 10:00 am to 7:30 pm
Tuesday: 10:00 am to 7:30 pm
Wednesday: 10:00 am to 7:30 pm
Thursday: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Friday: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Saturday: By Appointment