What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can be understood of as an extreme form of snoring. But unlike snoring, which is mostly a relationship or quality of life issue, sleep apnea is a medical disease with significant health implications. Snoring and sleep apnea both result from vibration of soft tissue in the throat. When sleep, muscles relax. As one breathes through the relaxed tissues in the throat, they tend to vibrate. If they vibrate a little, we snore a little. If they vibrate a lot, we snore a lot. Sleep apnea is when the tissue vibrates enough so that the tissue actually blocks the airway. Thus, there is not passage of air into the lungs.
Dangers of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is perilous because it prevents you from getting normal, restorative sleep. Plus, it prevents oxygen from entering the lungs. Each time your airway is blocked, blood oxygen levels get critically low. The dangerous decreases in blood oxygen levels, robs your brain and organs of the oxygen they require. The brain awakens you (very briefly) to re-open the airway. This disrupts normal sleep patterns and cycles. Sleep apnea increases your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, obesity, erectile dysfunction and even depression and anxiety. As such, sleep apnea must be treated.
If I Have Sleep Apnea, Do I Have To Wear A CPAP Mask For The Rest Of My Life?
No, you don’t! Treatments are only as good as people’s ability to benefit from them. Most people who are given a CPAP mask do not wear it regularly. It has been shown that fewer than 40% of people actually wear their CPAP regularly. Luckily, Dr. Nugent is a leader in sleep dentistry and offers custom oral appliances to battle the effects of sleep apnea.
CPAP Problems
Get all your options when treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Dr. Nugent is a leading sleep dentist and helps patients in Deer Park Texas who are struggling with their sleep apnea. Call our office today at 832-487-0647 or come visit us at 3421 Burke Rd #1.
