What are the Dangers of Sleep Apnea in Weatherford?

Have you noticed that you’re exhausted frequently by the afternoon? Do you sometimes wake up with headaches? Do you find that you often have trouble focusing on your tasks during the day? Did you know that chronic fatigue, frequent headaches, and the inability to concentrate are all symptoms of sleep apnea? This dangerous sleep disorder causes a host of issues that can affect your daily life as well as your overall health and well-being. Here’s what you need to know about sleep apnea in Weatherford.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues at the back of your throat relax during sleep and obstruct your airway. The lack of oxygen causes you to wake up often with a snore or cough. Believe it or not, you may be waking multiple times throughout the night, causing you to lose much-needed sleep. Most patients don’t even realize they are waking during the night, but the effects are felt during the day when they experience chronic fatigue.

The Ramifications of Sleep Apnea

Besides the debilitating impact that sleep apnea has on your daily life, there are also serious health concerns associated with it. When you aren’t able to get the rest that you need, it affects every system in your body. Some of the larger ramifications of untreated sleep apnea are:

• High blood pressure
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Heart failure
• Weight gain

Treating Sleep Apnea

The standard of care for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. This is a machine with a mask that you wear during sleep that opens your airways and delivers oxygen to help you breathe freely during the night. While CPAP therapy is effective for many patients, others feel uncomfortable or claustrophobic wearing the mask.

For those who are interested in alternative options for CPAP therapy, an oral appliance may be an effective sleep apnea treatment. A customized oral appliance will help to slightly reposition your jaw to open your airways for free breathing at night. Sometimes CPAP and oral appliance therapies can be combined for successfully managing severe cases of sleep apnea.

For more information on sleep apnea, contact your dentist in Weatherford and schedule a consultation.

About the Author

Dr. Deborah Romack has extensive training in helping patients successfully manage their sleep apnea. She and her team are well equipped to identify and treat sleep apnea and other breathing disorders, working closely with general physicians to achieve optimum results for her patients.

If you would like to contact Dr. Romack, she can be reached by calling 817-594-3806 or through our website.