Sleep Apnea
Dentist Battle Ground
 Most people have at least heard of sleep apnea but very few know the details about the chronic disorder. It can impact the health of the patient in ways most cannot imagine. There are several different treatments available to combat the symptoms of sleep apnea. In some cases, patients might not realize they have sleep apnea if they live alone or if their symptoms are not serious enough for their partners to notice. For others they can awaken gasping for breath or feeling as if they are being smothered. A potentially deadly sleep disorder, patients who have experienced these symptoms should come see us immediately for treatment. Come see us at Excel Dental for a full evaluation.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Considered common, sleep apnea involves breathing disruption through the patient’s sleep cycle. In most cases, this can be caused due to an abnormality of a physical type. In other cases, it can be caused when the brain stops sending the correct nerve instructions to force the muscles to properly breath.
Obstructive sleep apnea is the first type of sleep apnea which involves a physical obstruction of the airway. This can be caused by an abnormal tissue growth and known as OSA. Another type of sleep apnea which involves an inappropriate signal from the brain to trigger the muscles required for breathing. This type is known as central sleep apnea and identified as CSA. There are also some patients who exhibit both types of sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea is known as complex sleep apnea syndrome or CSAS.
Sleep apnea is nothing to mess around with. In some cases, it can be so acute, patients can wake up gasping for breath. Never truly able to get restful sleep, patients can suffer from additional symptoms including being sleepy during the course of their day, unable to focus, and irritated easily. It can also lead to severe ailments like respiratory problems and heart problems.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Those suffering from sleep apnea can exhibit extremely loud snoring and wake up multiple times through the night. They can also report having a dry mouth and morning headaches along with difficulty falling asleep. All of these are indicators of patients suffering from sleep apnea.
What are the Risks of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can strike anyone at any time. It has even been diagnosed in children. There are a few different factors which can make any patient more likely to exhibit sleep apnea symptoms. These include those who smoke tobacco. Also, those with considerably larger than normal necks or who drink large amounts of alcohol can develop sleep apnea more readily than those who do not.
Available Treatments
The treatment protocol is largely dependent on how severe the sleep apnea is. Obviously, the treatments all have one focus in mind. They want to restore normal breathing throughout the patient’s sleep cycle. If not appropriately addressed, sleep apnea can cause serious complications and in rare instances death.
Come see us at the office today for more information. We are located at Excel Dental. Give us a call to find out more. Our number is (360) 369-3930. Call it today to get your treatment started. |
