Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder and yet a majority of people go undiagnosed. Throughout their life, they never sleep properly.
The reason sleep apnea usually remained undiagnosed is that we usually find it difficult to accept that we have a problem. I gained 15 pounds my junior year of high school. Everyone was warning me that I was, especially my mom. However, in my head, I kept on telling myself that “she has really high expectations,” and “I’m not fat. She’s insane.” I did not accept the fact that I gained 15 pounds in a year until my dad told me himself. After that confirmation, I knew that I had to start exercising. With that determination and mindset, I lost the weight I gained the summer before my senior year of high school.
Something a person may have trouble accepting is having a disorder. However, being in denial about having a disorder is definitely dangerous, especially if this disorder is the sleeping disorder sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which the breathing is constantly interrupted due to a blockage in the airway. This blockage could have been caused by relaxed muscles, large uvula, and many other reasons.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is dangerous because of the health risks that are related to it. The health risks are heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more. This is why it is so important to test yourself for sleep apnea if you have the following symptoms:
The symptoms are limited to the ones mentioned. Be sure to get tested for sleep apnea! The testing process is quite simple. To test for sleep apnea, it will require an overnight stay at a sleep clinic while a sleep specialist watches over your sleeping patterns.
Sleep Apnea Testing
When you visit your dentist at 7 Day Dental, your doctor will make an evaluation based on your symptoms. Sometimes, your dentist may also refer you to a sleep disorder center for comprehensive sleep apnea testing.
Sleep apnea testing involves overnight monitoring and sleep evaluation. The following tests may be performed to detect sleep apnea.
If the results of these tests are abnormal, your doctor may not require any further tests and suggest a therapy. However, your doctor may also refer you to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist in case a blockage in throat or nose is causing your sleep apnea.
Home Sleep Apnea Testing
Home sleep apnea testing can help you diagnose sleep apnea without having to go to a sleep center or sleep specialist. However, it’s only recommended when you have clear signs of sleep apnea with moderate to severe sleep apnea. If you have other medical conditions, you may not benefit from sleep apnea testing at home.
At 7 Day Dental, we recommend that you only take home sleep apnea test when you don’t have a high risk of OSA.
Sleep Apnea Therapies
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, your doctor will discuss various treatment options and therapies with you. The following therapies usually help patients with sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Surgery
Sometimes, these therapies and other treatments for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) fail. In such cases, surgery is often the only option that could help patients sleep peacefully again.
Your doctor will always consider surgery as the last option and even do a three-month trial with other treatments before finally resorting to surgery.
Sleep apnea surgery may involve tissue removal, jaw repositioning, implants, nasal surgery, tonsils surgery, and tracheotomy. If you are obese, your doctor may suggest a weight loss surgery to treat sleep apnea.
If there are any concerns regarding sleep apnea, come into 7 Day Dental and ask to see Dr. Frank Burrell. Dr. Burrell has 7 years of experience with sleep medicine. Therefore, he has the experience and expertise to answer any question you may have. Other than sleep apnea treatment, 7 Day Dental offers other oral treatment like braces, root canals, or filling up your cavities. Make an important at 7 Day Dental! We’re open every day of the year for your convenience! Smile with us!
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