Sleep apnea affects more than 18 million people in the United States, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
And according to the American Sleep Apnea Association, around half of all people with this condition do not know that they have it.
This could be a problem for you. It may be a problem for your spouse or partner, too, which is why it’s important to get tested if you suspect that you may have this sleep disorder.
The office of Dr. James Ross, Family, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry can help. We offer a take-home sleep test that can help diagnose sleep apnea. If needed, we also design a sleep apnea treatment at our dentist office in Novi, MI.
Below, we will discuss some of the symptoms of sleep apnea as well as some potential consequences of leaving it untreated. If any of it seems familiar, then we urge you to call us at 248-697-2487 or contact us online to set up your sleep test.
Symptoms & Consequences Of Sleep Apnea
The most obvious symptom of sleep apnea is one that your spouse may be more aware of than you are.
It’s snoring — loud, constant snoring — every time you fall asleep.
Now, most people will snore from time to time, but the snoring associated with sleep apnea can make it hard for other people to sleep if they are in the same bed, same room, or even the same hallway.
If your partner regularly complains about your snoring keeping them awake, then you should take that as a big clue.
Since your significant other is awake anyway, he or she may have noticed something else that happens when you fall asleep. You stop breathing.
For someone with mild sleep apnea, this may happen up to 14 times per hour. People with moderate sleep apnea can stop breathing up to 29 times per hour, and people with severe sleep apnea stop breathing 30 or more times each hour.
People with sleep apnea often wake up feel tired. They often have morning headaches, feel irritable, and have trouble concentrating.
And they struggle with daytime sleepiness as well, which may explain why they are more than twice as likely as other people to be involved in traffic accidents.
Your breathing stoppages also interfere with the quality of the sleep you get at night. It probably isn’t just a coincidence that people with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, strokes, and heart attacks, too.
Again, we urge you to call (248-697-2487) our dentist office in Novi, MI, to get tested if you suspect that you may have sleep apnea.
Getting Tested For Sleep Apnea
Many times people undergo sleep tests in a lab setting. This is not your normal sleep environment, and you may feel more comfortable completing the test at home.
Dr. James Ross’s office can provide you with a take-home sleep test. The machine will track your patterns while you sleep. The results will be analyzed by sleep experts who can determine whether you have sleep apnea.
If you do, we can discuss the sleep apnea treatments we offer at our office. CPAP machines are the most common treatment, yet many people find they cannot tolerate wearing a mask that blows air into their mouths or noses while they sleep.
That’s why we offer a differ solution. Our oral appliance is custom-made for you. The oral appliance is like a mouthguard that you wear while you sleep. Many people need some time to adjust to wearing it, but once they do, most patients find that it makes a big difference in their quality of sleep.
The appliance slightly shifts the position of your jaw. The helps to keep your airways open while you sleep, which allows you to keep breathing throughout the night.
Your partner may be happy to know that this should reduce or eliminate your snoring as well.
Are You Ready To Get A Good Night’s Sleep?
You could wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. You could feel more alert throughout the day. You could wake up without a headache.
But first, you have to call 248-697-2487 or contact the office of Dr. Ross with our online form. You have to request a consultation to discuss your sleep apnea.
A little help could improve your sleep and more.