THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF SLEEP APNEA

Are you literally tired from all that snoring? It could be a sign of sleep apnea, a serious condition. That’s why you need to call us today at 205-545-8007 and schedule an appointment for sleep apnea treatment. Our dentists have helped many people finally get the sleep they need.

Sleep Apnea Causes

Is there a difference between snoring and sleep apnea? Yes, and it depends on how often it happens.

No one is completely quiet when they sleep. Depending on factors like how much alcohol you drank or food you ate, you could snore occasionally. Sleep apnea is much different. You snore because your throat is closing up.

There are two types: obstructive or central.

• With obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles around your throat relax too much. Their weight actually blocks your airway.
• Central sleep apnea is when your brain stops telling your body to breathe.

Both happen at night while you’re trying to sleep, and they can be combined to create mixed sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Side Effects

Is losing sleep that big of a deal? If you were just losing sleep occasionally, it wouldn’t be. With sleep apnea, you’re losing sleep almost every night. That means you’re at a much higher risk for several problematic side effects.

INABILITY TO STAY FOCUSED

You know how hard it is to function like a real human being if you don’t get any sleep the night before. With sleep apnea, this becomes the norm for you. You’re so exhausted that it’s hard to stay focused and pay attention to work, school, you name it. It also affects your memory since you cannot focus long enough.

Call us today at 205-545-8007 and schedule your next appointment for sleep apnea treatment. With our dentists’ help, you can finally start sleeping enough to stay focused and get your jobs done safely.

SLEEP ACTIVITY

Sleep apnea often keeps you in this twilight state where you’re not quite awake but not quite asleep either. This can lead to sleep activity such as sleepwalking, sleep talking, and sleep eating. Doing almost anything in this half-awake, half-asleep state is risky.

That’s why you need to call our Birmingham, AL dental office today. With their advanced training, our dentists can help you stay asleep for most (if not all) of the night. This way, your risk of having an accident during sleep activity is much less.

IRRITABILITY AND DEPRESSION

No doubt, you’ve experienced exhaustion before. You know how anyone can get moody after not getting enough sleep. Try not getting sleep for months on end. Sleep apnea can make you irritable and, if it goes untreated long enough, you can face depression.

By calling us today, you can schedule an appointment to help forestall depression with sleep apnea treatment. Our dentists can help you get the rest you need so you can avoid depression and irritability.

HEART DISEASE AND HYPERTENSION

Sleep apnea also lowers the amount of oxygen in your blood. Your body tries to compensate by beating the heart faster. This makes your blood move faster as well, getting what oxygen you have to all parts of your body. This increases the stress on your body and can lead to heart disease and hypertension.

When you call our Birmingham, AL dental office today, make an appointment for sleep apnea treatment. The sooner you get help, the sooner you can lower your risk of heart disease and hypertension.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

First, you get a sleep study to determine why you are not breathing at night. Next, most people get fitted for a custom oral appliance. This is like a mouthguard but smaller and more comfortable. You wear it at night. It repositions your jaw just enough to help keep your airway open while you sleep. Many people find this is just what they needed to finally get some rest.

Call us TODAY at 205-545-8007 or use our online form to make an appointment for sleep apnea treatment. With the help of our highly trained dentists, you can soon get past the snoring and let yourself fall (and stay) asleep much better.