At Redbud Dental in Edmond, we often see patients who have struggled with insufficient sleep for months or even years. Some of these people end up diagnosed with sleep apnea or related conditions.
You Can’t Just “Tough It Out”
The reluctance to request treatment is unfortunate, because it takes a toll on health and reduces quality of life. If they are keeping someone up at night, it makes life more difficult for that person, too.
Protect Your Health
Sleep apnea is a disorder where you have frequent, recurring gaps in breathing while you sleep. These pauses can last for up to 60 seconds and are caused by soft tissue in the back of the throat that relaxes and obstructs the airway. As you can probably imagine, when our brain is not getting enough oxygen it hinders vital biological processes.
For some reason, many people don’t consider sleep apnea a serious issue. Why the disconnect? There isn’t a biological function more fundamental than that. And poor sleep can cause a host of serious health troubles. It also affects performance in every facet of life; work, leisure pursuits, and relationships.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Cause: Throat muscles soften and block the airway. This is the most prevalent type.
Central Sleep Apnea
Cause: The brain doesn’t send signals to the muscles that regulate breathing.
Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (Treatment-emergent Central Sleep Apnea)
Both of the previous conditions are present in this type.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
- Loud snoring
- Sudden awakenings where you are choking or feel “out of breath”
- Pauses in breathing while sleeping (as evidenced by another person noticing the behavior)
- Sore throat or dry mouth after sleeping
- Fitful sleep
- Falling asleep while performing normal daily activities
- Inability to concentrate during the day
- Mood changes
- Awakening with a headache
- Extreme tiredness
At Redbud Dental in Edmond, we treat sleep apnea. We also have a wide range of family dentistry services. Schedule an appointment with us today.
Contact Redbud Dental:
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
18001 N. Western Ave. Ste. 106
Edmond, Oklahoma
73012