23 May Do I Have Sleep Apnea?
Posted at 12:48h
in Oral Device Therapy
If you often find yourself snoozing your alarm in the morning, it could be due to more than just feeling tired. Your morning fatigue could be due to you not sleeping well enough at night, which could potentially be caused by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or snoring. Dr. Drake and his team in San Antonio, TX, may be able to evaluate your sleep patterns and find a treatment that can help you rest better at night.
Trouble Sleeping At Night
OSA is a disorder that causes you to stop breathing throughout the night. When this happens, you may be waking up without realizing it, which can pull you out of your cycle of rest. As a result, you are not reaching the deep rest needed to feel refreshed for the next day. In addition to having trouble staying asleep at night, patients with untreated OSA may also have difficulty falling asleep as well. You can try at-home remedies like lying on your side instead of your back, exercising, and losing weight, but if these don’t work, it’s likely time to see a professional. If you are unsure about the disorder, you can take our risk quiz to evaluate your current health.
Loud, Chronic Snoring
One of the most common indicators that a patient has OSA is if you struggle with loud, chronic snoring. This occurs when your airways narrow, making it difficult to breathe. Not only does the noise cause you to wake up throughout the evening, but it can also wake up your partner and other family members in the house. If you tend to snore loudly on a nightly basis, you may want to consider seeking treatment. Some patients may benefit from treatment with an oral appliance, which keeps your jaw forward and airways open to reduce snoring and other symptoms of OSA.
Daytime Fatigue And Headaches
OSA can cause you OSA can wake you up at night, so you feel tired in the morning because you are not actually sleeping for the full eight hours or so that you are in bed. Over time, chronic fatigue can cause difficulty concentrating, mood changes, anxiety, and more. You may also experience headaches or a dry throat in the mornings from snoring or breathing with an open mouth. These side effects may seem insignificant, but they can lead to several oral health issues over time, like cavities and gum disease, and the chronic pain from daily headaches can disrupt your quality of life.
Schedule An Appointment With Dr. Drake
If you are currently experiencing one or more symptoms of a sleep disorder, we may be able to help you. Call Dr. Drake’s team in San Antonio, TX, today at 210-541-9001 to schedule an appointment.