Sleep apnea can negatively impact your health and well-being, but we can help reverse its effects by introducing effective sleep apnea treatment in Ottawa.
Do you wake up feeling tired and groggy? Is your sleep constantly interrupted? You may have sleep apnea. Linked with heart disease, memory problems, and other health and lifestyle hindrances, sleep apnea is a very real problem in modern society. By recognizing the symptoms of this disorder and approaching a dental professional, you’ll be better able at combating it.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment in Ottawa
Do you snore yourself or your partner keeps you awake at night with their snoring habit? The fact is, snoring usually points to an obstruction somewhere in the breathing process. Many times, it is no big deal and is caused by having a narrow airway that makes a sound when you are asleep. However, snoring can point to a more serious problem known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a sleep disorder which requires sleep apnea treatment in Ottawa.
If you or your loved one is a chronic snorer, it may be a good idea to get yourself checked out – it is always better to be safe than sorry!
What Causes Snoring?
Studies show that nearly 50% of adults snore. This can be caused by a blockage in the airway or can be due to various factors, such as medications that relax surrounding muscles, excessive weight, or alcohol use. These factors could also amplify the problem if it already exists.
When snoring is minor or infrequent, it does not pose a concern. However, if your or your partner’s snoring is loud with intense bursts throughout the night, this could be one of the symptoms of sleep apnea.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Ottawa?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a breathing disorder that is very serious in nature. It occurs when, due to muscle relaxation, the tissue in the back of the throat, nose, and mouth, blocks the airways, which prevents breathing. Such episodes could last for up to 10 seconds or even more.
The brain’s natural reaction is to jolt the body briefly awake and interrupting your sleep, so that you can breath. However, over the course of the night, such interruptions can be constant, preventing the person from reaching the deep level of sleep that is crucial to get proper rest. With time, this could lead to other serious conditions. That is why it is important to get a timely sleep apnea treatment in Ottawa.
Sleep Apnea Causes
Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the muscles at the back of your throat relax. The main function of these muscles is to support the soft palate, your tongue, your tonsils, and the side walls of the throat. Whenever these muscles relax, the airway narrows or closes completely at the moment when you take a breath in.
You are unable to get sufficient air, which lowers the levels of oxygen in your blood. The brain senses that you can’t breathe and briefly wakes you up from sleep, so that your airway can be reopened. This awakening is very brief, and many times you would not even remember it.
You might choke, snort, or gasp. This pattern can be repeated five to thirty times each hour, all night long, impairing your ability to reach restful phases of sleep.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea include:
- Abnormal sleep patterns
- Choking during sleep
- Daytime drowsiness
- Concentration and focusing difficulties
- Dry mouth or sore throat in the morning
- Erectile dysfunction
- Frequent pauses during sleep due to breaks in breathing
- High blood pressure
- Irritability
- Loud snoring
- Sudden awakenings to restart breathing
- Waking up sweating
When to See a Professional?
You should consult a medical professional or sleep specialist and get sleep apnea treatment in Ottawa if you experience the following:
- Waking up gasping or choking
- Snoring loud enough to disturb the sleep of your partner
- Excessive daytime sleepiness, which can cause you to fall asleep while you are watching TV, working, or even driving a car
Many people do not think that snoring is a sign of something serious, and, in fact, not everyone who snores is suffering from sleep apnea. But it is important to talk to your doctor if you notice that your snoring is getting louder, or if your snoring is punctuated by periods of silence.
If you are suffering from sleep apnea, snoring is generally loudest when you sleep on your back, and it gets quieter when you turn on your side.
If you are chronically sleepy, fatigued, and irritable, you may need to seek sleep apnea treatment.
Sleep Apnea Devices in Ottawa
Traditional sleep apnea treatment in Ottawa utilizes a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine. This machine delivers oxygen to the person through a tube and a mask. However, nearly one in two people cannot sleep with the machine, as they find it uncomfortable, bulky, and noisy.
The good news is that there are alternative treatment options that work for most people: Oral Appliance Therapy.
At Rockcliffe Dental & Denture Centre, we offer various dental appliances that work to open the airway and protect against sleep apnea. We will custom-fit you for a mouth guard or night guard that holds the palate up and keeps the airway free. These are recommended as a non-surgical solution for mild to moderate sleep apnea specifically.
This oral appliance, known as a Jaw Advancing Device (JAD) or Mandicular Advancement Device (MAD) move the jaw forward slightly to include the size of the airway during sleep. Not only can this simple device fight against sleep apnea, it can also reduce snoring. Sleep apnea appliances are recommended because they are compact, portable, cost-effective, and show immediate improvement in sleep quality.
Suffering from Sleep Apnea? Contact Rockcliffe Dental & Denture Centre Today!
If you believe you are suffering from sleep apnea or are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms, be sure to take action and seek sleep apnea treatment in Ottawa.
Contacting us to book an appointment will help to protect your overall health and sleep soundly once again.
- Learn what are the symptoms of sleep apnea
- Learn why sleep apnea affects more than just your sleep quality
- Learn more about general dentistry in Ottawa
- Learn more about 5 common oral surgeries in Ottawa
