Has your partner been complaining about your constant, obnoxious snoring waking them up at night? Have you been struggling to get enough restful sleep to avoid feeling groggy throughout the day? It’s time to find out if your life could potentially be at risk because of a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea.

Dr. James Ross is a dentist in Novi, MI that can help you get the proper diagnosis and treatment to find relief from your symptoms and prevent more serious health conditions.

Sleep Apnea Definition

Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder that has the potential to affect your overall health and put your life at risk. The disorder is characterized by repeated interruptions in a person’s breathing while they sleep. Untreated sleep apnea can cause a person to stop breathing as many as several hundred times a night. That could mean the brain is being deprived of necessary oxygen.

There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes blocked, usually by the collapse of the soft tissue at the back of the throat. Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common form of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain doesn’t send a signal to the muscles to breathe, because of instability in the respiratory control center.

Symptoms & Side Effects Of Sleep Apnea

How can you know if you have sleep apnea? It’s important to know your own body and recognize what is normal and what isn’t. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it could be a sign of sleep apnea:

  • Waking up with a sore or dry throat
  • Loud snoring
  • Waking with a choking or gasping feeling
  • Fatigue or lack of energy during the day
  • Drowsiness while driving
  • Morning headaches
  • Restless sleep
  • Mood changes and forgetfulness
  • Insomnia

Because some of the symptoms occur during sleep, your partner may be the one to witness your symptoms. It may be helpful to ask them if they have noticed any of the above symptoms, particularly the loud snoring. It may have even affected their quality of sleep.

If left untreated, sleep apnea has the potential to affect your overall health. If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, you could have trouble concentrating during the day, experience depression, or become more irritable. You could also potentially experience serious health conditions as a result of sleep apnea, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, and diabetes.

Sleep Apnea Risk Factors

Sleep apnea can affect anyone, no matter their age or health condition. But there are certain factors that put you at a higher risk of developing sleep apnea. Those risk factors include:

  • Being age 40 or older
  • Being overweight
  • Being male
  • A neck size that is 17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women
  • A family history of sleep apnea
  • Large tonsils, a small jaw bone, or a large tongue
  • Nasal obstruction caused by a deviated septum, sinus problems, or allergies
  • Gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD

Sleep Apnea Treatment

You don’t have to live with your symptoms. At the office of Dr. James Ross in Novi, MI, we can treat your sleep apnea and help you find relief from your symptoms while protecting your overall health.

At Dr. James Ross Family, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry we have come up with personalized solutions for each specific case. At our Novi, MI dental office your treatment will start with a screening. We’ll also provide a complimentary take-home sleep test that we will send to a lab for analysis once you return to our office.

If the test results show you’re at risk, we will make a customized oral appliance to help you breathe normally while you sleep. We don’t want you to have to settle for an uncomfortable CPAP machine to find relief from your symptoms.

To find out if you have sleep apnea and are at risk for further health problems, call our Novi, MI dental office today to schedule a consultation. Call Dr. James C Ross Family, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry at 248-697-2487 or fill out our online contact form to request an appointment.