About Sleep Apnea

What causes me to stop breathing throughout the night?

Sleep apnea results in brief apneic episodes while the patient is asleep. This means that the patient stops breathing for a very short period of time. This happens many times throughout the night, and the cause is often an airway obstruction. The soft tissues at the back of your throat may go slack and slide over the airway opening, eventually blocking it. You are at greater risk for sleep apnea if you have a large neck circumference, a smaller jaw or are obese, among other risk factors.

In addition to pauses in breathing, which may be noticed by a sleeping partner, other sleep apnea symptoms include loud snoring, daytime drowsiness, along with morning headaches, sore throats or dry mouth. If you notice a combination of these symptoms, you should consult with a sleep apnea specialist to learn about treatment options.

Sleep Apnea: A Serious Threat To Your Health

Quality sleep is instrumental to our health, but people who have untreated sleep apnea aren’t getting as much rest as they need. Consequently, sleep apnea appears to have a relationship with a variety of health conditions, ranging from obesity to high blood pressure. It may be linked to an increased risk of stroke and even sudden unexpected death. This is why it is imperative for you to be evaluated for sleep apnea treatment if you are experiencing symptoms of this condition.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Different sleep apnea treatment options are available, so don’t be concerned that you’ll be saddled with an unwieldy CPAP device if you want to get your symptoms under control. Many patients respond well to oral appliance therapy, which is much more convenient than a CPAP. If this approach is recommended in your case, you will wear an appliance that fits entirely – and comfortably – in your mouth. Most patients find it much easier to use an oral appliance and are more likely to adhere to this treatment regimen when it is prescribed for them.