Obstructive sleep apnea is a frustrating and uncomfortable health condition characterized by the windpipe becoming blocked when the tissues of the neck relax during sleep. When the brain realizes it isn’t getting enough oxygen, it will send a distress signal to the rest of the body, causing the sleeper to wake up suddenly and out of breath. Here’s how this may worsen the patient’s chances of developing serious health conditions like diabetes, how you can reduce your symptoms at home, and how your sleep dentist can help.
How May Sleep Apnea Increase My Risk of Diabetes?
The human body is designed to go through a particular pattern of various stages of sleep, and this process normally takes eight hours. However, waking up frequently due to lack of breath is quite stressful to the nervous, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems, and sleep apnea can cause a person to awaken more than a hundred times in a single night in extreme cases. People with sleep apnea are more likely to develop serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes and suffer cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes.
How Can I Reduce My Sleep Apnea Symptoms at Home?
There are a few methods you can practice at home to reduce your symptoms of sleep apnea and make it easier to get fulfilling rest. Several suggestions include:
- Sleeping in a recliner or propping up your head with pillows or cushions when you lay down. This will allow gravity to help keep your airway open.
- Eating a healthy diet. Stressful digestion can make it harder to sleep soundly, and excessive weight can increase your likelihood of apnea events.
- Getting plenty of exercise. Regular sessions of intense physical activity will teach your cardiovascular system to work more efficiently, which may make it easier to breathe while asleep.
- Avoiding blue light such as that produced by television screens, computer monitors, and smartphones for a few hours before bed. The human brain is programmed to become more wakeful when exposed to blue light.
How Can My Sleep Dentist Address Sleep Apnea?
CPAP machines are one way to address sleep apnea, and they are designed to keep the sleeping patient’s windpipe open using pressurized air. However, dentists can also treat sleep apnea with noninvasive and removable oral appliances designed to hold the lower jaw in a forward position that makes it more difficult for the airway to become closed during sleep. These devices can also be used to reduce teeth grinding, a symptom that often comes with sleep apnea. Some patients may benefit from combined therapy using both CPAP machines and oral appliances.
Don’t let sleep apnea make it exceedingly difficult to sleep properly. Consulting with your dentist can help you achieve better rest.
About the Author
Dr. Jay A. Nelson earned his dental degree at the University of Pennsylvania and has completed more than 500 hours of continuing education coursework. He is also a proud member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. His office in Wesley Chapel treats sleep apnea with oral appliances, CPAP machines, and combined therapy. If you are concerned about sleep apnea, contact his office online or dial (813) 733-4169.