Signs and Symptoms That May Indicate You Have Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a relatively common disorder but that doesn’t mean it can’t be serious. In fact, it often is. Essentially, it’s a disorder in which a person stops breathing while they’re sleeping. It’s generally very treatable but the biggest obstacle to treatment is the fact that it’s often not recognized.
Who’s at risk for sleep apnea?
Anyone can suffer from sleep apnea – even children – but there are a few demographics that are more susceptible to it than others. They include:
- Men
- Overweight people
- People 40 years old or older
Is sleep apnea really that big of a deal?
In short, yes – it is. When your sleep is constantly disrupted you can suffer from a number of side effects including:
- Sleepiness during the day
- Inability to concentrate
- Higher chance of accidents
- Slow reflexes
- High blood pressure
- Weight gain
- Heart failure
- Diabetes
- Stroke
The good news is that though the side effects can become serious, the treatment is also relatively simple – that is, once you are diagnosed.
The most common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea
Everyone is different but there are a handful of signs and symptoms that may indicate you have sleep apnea. They include:
- Very loud snoring.
- Pauses while you’re snoring, with gasping or choking signs that follow those pauses. For many people, this is the most common sign that sleep apnea is occurring.
- Headaches in the morning.
- Feeling sleeping when you wake up, while you’re working, or while you’re driving. Often this includes falling asleep quickly during the day if you’re not active. However, note that this isn’t a requirement. Some people aren’t tired at all during the day but still have breathing problems in their sleep, including sleep apnea.
- Feelings of depression, irritability, mood swings, or changes to the personality can be a sign that you’re not getting enough deep sleep, which can be caused by sleep apnea.
- Issues remembering things.
- Difficulty learning new things.
- An inability to concentrate.
- Getting up frequently in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.
- Sore throat in the morning.
- A dry mouth after waking up.
What to do if you think you have sleep apnea
If you’ve read through these signs and symptoms and have become concerned that you suffer from this disorder, then it’s time to contact California Dental Group. We can assess your individual symptoms, talk to you about your medical history, and make a diagnosis.
If you do indeed have sleep apnea then we’ll talk with you about your treatment options. One of the simplest is an oral appliance. We custom make these mouthpieces using a plastic-like mold that creates a mouthpiece that exactly fits the shape of your mouth and teeth. The great thing about these oral appliances is that they not only help with sleep apnea but they can also prevent snoring altogether.
Are you ready to learn more about sleep apnea and your treatment options? Reach out to California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to set up your appointment.
