Sleep Apnea Treatment Cumming

The Basics of Sleep Apnea

Although sleep apnea is a relatively common diagnosis, it can have serious impacts on your overall health when left untreated. It’s known to cause apneas, which are episodes where you may stop breathing several times throughout the night for 10 seconds or more at a time. When this occurs, it can trigger your brain to wake up as an emergency response, causing you to immediately gasp or choke on air.

This specific type of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA for short, and can lead to serious health complications over time due to the limited oxygen flow to the brain as you rest. In addition to affecting your health, it can also impact your day-to-day life, making it harder to focus on work or school, or causing rapid mood changes and even depression.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

There are two commonly diagnosed types of sleep apnea, called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA). OSA occurs as a result of blocked airways, which can result from having large tonsils, changes in hormone levels, and anything that could narrow your airway, like fat accumulation around the neck. CSA is a neurological response caused by the brain not sending the proper signals to the respiratory system to breathe while you sleep. Some factors that can affect sleep apnea development and symptoms include weight, lifestyle habits, and whether or not these conditions run in your family.

Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep apnea can sometimes be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can overlap with other medical and health conditions. Additionally, those who suffer from this sleep-breathing disorder can experience a wide variety of effects. If you notice that you’re experiencing at least two of the following signs, consider calling our practice for assistance:

• Chronic fatigue
• Loud, persistent snoring
• Waking up choking or gasping for air
• Waking up in the morning feeling groggy
• Morning headaches
• Problems with memory and concentration
• Mood swings/depression
• Waking up throughout the night to use the restroom
• Clenching and grinding the teeth at night
• Impotence

The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Countless peer-reviewed studies have confirmed that sleep apnea can increase the risk of developing other medical conditions in addition to affecting your day-to-day life, which is why treatment is so crucial. Without effective care, you’re at a higher risk of developing:

• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Depression
• Sexual dysfunction

How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

The only definite way to diagnose the type and severity of your sleep apnea is by getting a sleep study completed at a clinic. However, in some cases, an at-home sleep study using a device like the Nightowl or WatchPat may also be appropriate.

Both types of sleep studies monitor your vitals and sleeping patterns, but ones completed under the guidance and instruction of trained technicians in a sleep lab tend to be more accurate. Once the test has collected all of this important information, a sleep doctor will review the data and determine whether you have a sleep disorder and recommend a treatment from there. While most sleep clinics recommend CPAP machines initially, some patients may know that won’t work for them, especially if they’re a light sleeper. In these situations, our team offers more comfortable and less intrusive alternatives that you may find more appealing.

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

Fortunately for many patients, there are a couple of different treatment options for sleep apnea, allowing you to choose the one that will work the best for your specific needs. The most common initial treatment recommendation is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. This requires you to wear a small mask over the nose and will push air through it to keep the airway open as you sleep. At Sleep Forsyth, we offer a more comfortable alternative that many patients opt for, called Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT). This includes a custom-crafted oral appliance that you wear at night to keep your airway open. Its portable design and noise-less function allow patients to get a truly restful night of sleep.

Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment

While you may not realize it until you experience all of the benefits of sleep apnea treatment, your condition is likely having a big impact on your quality of life. With Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT), you may notice that you have more energy, are able to concentrate better, and experience less chronic fatigue. Plus, at the end of the day when it’s time for you to go to bed, all you’ll need to do is simply put your oral appliance in your mouth and doze off!