What to Know About Sleep Apnea

If you have sleep apnea in Columbia, SC, treatment options are available at Tompkins Orthodontics. It’s important to be checked for sleep apnea if you have questionable symptoms, since there are inherent dangers in untreated sleep apnea. Learn more about this condition so that you can seek help if needed.

Health Risks Associated With Sleep Apnea

The most important thing to know about sleep apnea is that it isn’t an innocuous condition that just causes annoying snoring. It has very real and very serious consequences and health risks associated with it. These include:

• high blood pressure
• heart disease
• stroke
• type 2 diabetes
• depression
• chronic fatigue
• and more

Early diagnosis and treatment is imperative to preserve overall health and well-being.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

It’s also important to realize that sleep apnea can develop in a person who did not previously have it. So, for example, if you or your sleep partner suddenly start snoring heavily or exhibiting other symptoms of sleep apnea, don’t rule out sleep apnea just because this diagnosis has never existed previously. It’s possible for the condition to develop quite suddenly. Here are some possible causes of sleep apnea:

• obesity or sudden weight gain
• side effect of prescription medication
• excess alcohol consumption/alcoholism
• chronic congestion/allergies
• genetic predisposition
• chronic smoking
• narrow airway
• brain damage (where the brain fails to send proper signals)

Never try to diagnose sleep apnea without professional help. Your dentist may be able to help to diagnose the condition during a dental visit.

Available Treatment For Sleep Apnea

If you do receive a professional diagnosis for sleep apnea, there are several treatments available. The efficacy of the treatment will depend upon how well you follow instructions as well as the underlying cause. Treatments include oral appliances to be worn at night, mouth guards, CPAP machines, lifestyle changes, changes in medication and surgery.

Talk to your dentist if you have fatigue upon waking in the morning, if you often “startle awake,” if you snore to the point of sleep disruption or if you or your partner suspect sleep apnea. Since treatment is readily available and very effective, there’s no reason to live with this dangerous condition. Contact your Columbia, SC dentist today to learn more.