Posted: February 11, 2016
Sleep apnea is a condition in which your airway closes during sleep, cutting off your air and causing you to wake in order to start breathing properly again. This can happen several times each night and can be caused by several factors, including your throat muscles relaxing too much, the size of your throat anatomy, and even your sleeping position. In addition to experiencing loud snoring that keeps your partner awake (which is usually how sleep apnea gets diagnosed), there are other symptoms that may indicate you have this dangerous condition. These include:
- Sleepiness during the daytime and waking up feeling tired
- Headaches when you wake
- Chronic fatigue and/or insomnia
- Waking with a choking sensation
- Dry mouth and/or sore throat
- Short-term memory problems and/or concentration problems
- Weight gain
- Decreased libido
Sleep apnea can be treated with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device designed to keep your airway open throughout your sleep cycle. There are also several other sleep apnea treatment options available, including custom mouth guards that keep your jaw open or in a particular position. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, you'll want to get it diagnosed as soon as you can. Untreated, sleep apnea can lead to more severe problems than just snoring. These serious issues include:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Depression
- Periodontal disease
If you think you may have sleep apnea or want to explore dental options to treat your sleep apnea, please contact the Practice at Maxwell Place using the form on this page or call 201-792-9400 today. Dr. Frank DePaola serves patients in Hoboken, Jersey City and throughout Hudson County, New Jersey.
