When you have trouble sleeping, or if you feel exhausted and moody during the day, these are often early signs you are not sleeping well. Chronic snoring and sleep apnea could leave you exhausted and even strain your heart health. But what causes such a disorder to develop? With our helpful Schertz, TX, sleep center, you can learn all about sleep apnea and how to beat it!
The Warning Signs You Need Help
When should you contact our office for treatment? With sleep apnea, the disorder means that while you rest at night, soft tissues in the throat and back of the mouth become too relaxed and then collapse, which cuts off airflow. You stop breathing until the brain interrupts your sleep cycle to make you resume. For this reason, people often feel exhausted during the day despite assuming they slept well the night before. Chronic snoring is also a common warning sign. You could wake up in the night struggling to breath or catch your breath, and during the day you could experience dry mouth, headaches, moodiness, and difficulty with concentration or memory. When one or more of these possible warning signs apply to your experience, let us know right away.
Underlying Factors and More
What leaves someone so vulnerable to the onset of sleep apnea? Factors could include a large neck circumference, obesity, sinus and allergy issues, or the presence of a deviated septum. Resting on your back is a factor, as is excessive alcohol consumption before going to bed. When you talk to our team, we will ask a few assessment questions about underlying factors and your symptoms to see if you need further testing and treatment. We want to help you enjoy a good night’s rest and feel more rested and alert the next day.
Sleep Tests and Oral Appliances
Following an assessment, we may recommend an at-home sleep test, in which you wear a device that records sleep apnea episodes and lets our team know if you require treatment. If so, w can offer an alternative to the CPAP machine with an oral appearance, a device that looks and fits much like a mouthguard. However, this custom-fitted device will actually shift your jaw and tongue forward to keep your airways open and free of obstruction. You can then breathe without complication and feel more rested the next day, avoiding symptoms.
If you have any questions, then contact our team today!
Discovers Sleep Solutions With Dr. Drake!
We want to help you obtain a good night’s rest without the need for a CPAP machine. To learn more about how we treat issues like obstructive sleep apnea, or to schedule an appointment, call Dr. Drake in Schertz, TX at (210) 541-9001 today.