Snoring is common for adults, but sometimes the snoring can be so severe that it is difficult for your partner or other family members to get rest. While you are off in dreamland, you may be hindering your loved ones from getting adequate rest, which can lead to tiresome days and stressed out nights. The thing is, many people who think they are simply snorers, actually suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is also known as obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. This is when the nasal passages are blocked, which causes severe snoring. The airway has collapsed and there’s no way for the air to flow to your body. If you have that heavy snoring that mimics the sound of a train, there is a probability that you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea Treatment in Madison WI is available from a dentist.
What Do I Do About Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
What occurs during OSA is no flow of air to the body. You are essentially being suffocated while you sleep, which is why you are breathing through your mouth and grasping for air any way you can get it. This is your body’s coping mechanism and a very natural approach that people with OSA do while sleeping. While you may feel that your body is doing nothing while you sleep, your body is still working and functioning to take care of itself. This activity requires oxygen and strains the lungs because they are looking for air that’s not automatically provided to them. As exhausting as this sounds, just think what your body is coping with on a nightly basis!
Sleep apnea can lead to a series of health risks including heart disease, obesity, diabetes and high blood sugar. All of this can lead to a low quality of life where a person does not feel motivated to do the things they truly want to. The results of sleep apnea can affect a person’s mood and eventually lead to depression if not treated.
A dental professional can treat a person with sleep apnea by giving them a continuous positive air pressure or CPAP machine. This machine is worn nightly and provides continuous air flow to the body, compensating for the fact that it is not an automatic response. Sleep Apnea Treatment in Madison WI can be suggested by a sleep expert or dentist experienced with the subject. Understand you do not have to suffer from heavy snoring for the rest of your life.
For more information, visit TMJ and Sleep Center.