What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes a person to cease breathing for short amounts of time during rest. The body will wake slightly following periods of apnea to resume proper breathing. The cycle of apnea followed by slight wakefulness will prevent a person from progressing naturally through each stage of sleep. Over time, sleep apnea will lead to sleep deprivation until treatment rectifies the underlying cause of airway obstruction.
What are symptoms of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea can present a few symptoms that a person might notice. The most common are waking with dry mouth and headaches as well as feeling persistently tired—even after what appears to be a full night of sleep. Other symptoms include irritability, memory loss, and depression. Sometimes family and friends detect sleep apnea when they hear a person gasping for air during sleep.
How is sleep apnea treated?
Sleep apnea can be treated in a few different ways. Sometimes, non-surgical treatment like oral appliance and CPAP therapy can prevent episodes of apnea by keeping the airway open. Other folks might need surgical treatment to remove excess tissue in the throat so that airway obstruction does not occur.
Why do I need a sleep study?
A sleep study is necessary for confirming a diagnosis of apnea. Once diagnosed, patients can seek out the best treatment for their needs.
Call us today to reserve a sleep apnea treatment consultation with our team at Great River Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.