How Can I Tell If I Have Sleep Apnea?

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Do you snore loudly? You might have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that can put you at risk for many other conditions. While there is no cure for sleep apnea, there is treatment. Your dentist in Cohasset, MA may be able to help with dental appliances that improve your sleep quality. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes a person to stop breathing for brief periods while sleeping. Sleep apnea usually occurs because the muscles in the back of the throat relax, thus covering the airway.

To resume breathing, the person must wake up briefly and fall back to sleep. People who have sleep apnea often don’t know they have sleep apnea because they have no memory of waking up over and over.

What Are the Signs of Sleep Apnea?

The symptoms of sleep apnea can vary, but here’s what to watch for:

  • Loud snoring
  • Feeling tired, even after a full night’s rest
  • Waking up gasping
  • Headaches in the morning
  • Mood swings, irritability
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Waking with a very dry mouth

What Should I Do If I Have Sleep Apnea?

If you have sleep apnea in Cohasset, MA, your dentist at Cohasset Dental may be able to help. We provide mouth guards to patients to help keep their airway open.

Sleep apnea can put you at risk for conditions like high blood pressure, heart problems, and stroke. If you have sleep apnea, it’s important to get treatment. Using the right tools, you may be able to keep your airway open while sleeping, thus improving your quality of sleep and quality of life. Call today.

The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea

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Did you know that your dentist in Cohasset, MA is a great resource for diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a condition where the person stops breathing intermittently during the night. Many times, a person is unaware that they even have sleep apnea; sometimes a sleep partner is the one who notices that there’s a problem. If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, talk to your dentist about diagnosis and potential treatment options. There are dangers in untreated sleep apnea.

Heart Disease

The heart needs a consistent, uninterrupted supply of oxygen to function properly. Studies have shown that untreated sleep apnea can lead to a higher chance of getting heart disease. This is, apparently due to the ongoing and frequent drops in levels of oxygen. The added stress on the heart is also brought on by increased blood pressure; again, related to oxygen deprivation. In turn, sleep apnea can raise the risk of stroke, heart failure and heart attack.

High Blood Pressure

Low oxygen levels at night due to sleep apnea can also play a factor in developing high blood pressure. This leads to the release of stress hormones, and the stress hormones elevate blood pressure and constrict blood vessels.

Mood Disorders

If you’ve found that you tend to be more emotionally sensitive, cranky or depressed, the surprising cause might be sleep apnea. This is because the person with sleep apnea isn’t getting sufficient hours of sleep at night. This is hard on the body, brain and central nervous system. If the sleep apnea is left untreated and sleep deprivation continues, there is a potential for damage to the person’s relationships and quality of life.

Don’t hesitate to book an appointment with your dentist in Cohasset, MA if you suspect sleep apnea. Treatment is available!

Top Three Signs You Suffer From Sleep Apnea and What to do About it

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If you feel tired all day, even after getting a full night’s sleep, you may be wondering what you can do to improve your energy levels. If you sleep through the night and still feel extremely tired, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.

The professional team at Cohasset Dental of Cohasset, MA, is proud to serve the local community with quality dental care services, including treating sleep apnea, so that you can start getting the restful sleep that you deserve.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a prevalent condition that many suffer from – the inability to properly breathe during the night. The most common sleep apnea is obstructive, which is when the airway becomes blocked during sleep.

A less common (but more serious) form of sleep apnea is central sleep apnea, which is when the brain isn’t sending proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Top Three Signs You May Have Sleep Apnea

Here are some common signs you may have sleep apnea:

  1. Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Do you constantly feel tired, sluggish, and struggle to focus during the day? This could be a symptom of sleep apnea. When your breathing repeatedly stops and starts throughout the night, your body doesn’t get the rest it needs, leading to excessive daytime sleepiness.

  1. Loud Snoring:

If your snoring is particularly loud, disrupts your partner’s sleep, or is accompanied by gasping or snorting sounds, it could be a sign of sleep apnea.

  1. Someone Has Witnessed Your Apneas:

If your partner has noticed you stop breathing for short periods during sleep, followed by gasping or snorting sounds, this is a strong indicator of sleep apnea.

Your Solution To A Good Night’s Sleep

No one should have to suffer from a bad night’s rest. We believe that you should have access to the proper equipment and medical expertise so that you can live a happy and healthy life.

During your next appointment with the strong team at Cohasset Dental of Cohasset, MA, you can be sure you will receive the proper care and guidance that you deserve.