Sleep Apnea: Causes, Symptoms, Risks and Treatment

Posted by Mysa Dental on May 26th, 2021

Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when your breathing is interrupted while you are sleeping. This causes a patient to stop breathing multiple times during their sleep cycle. During these times, your brain remains deprived of oxygen. Sleep apnea can worsen or cause other health conditions like blood pressure a could also lead to the development of health issues like type 2 diabetes. If you notice the symptoms of sleep apnea, it is important to manage the condition through certain lifestyle and behavior changes to prevent further health issues.

Cause of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea occurs when your airway is narrowing, making it difficult for air to pass through easily while you are sleeping. In many cases, your tongue can fall back which consequently blocks air from getting through which causes paused breathing. Moreover, if you have obstruction of airflow (such as due to obesity), then you are at risk of developing a sleep apnea condition.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

It can be difficult to understand that you are having sleep apnea when you are not aware of waking up during the night. Other signs include making choking sounds in sleep or snoring. You might also experience tiredness and drowsiness during the day due to a lack of proper sleep. A lack of quality sleep can affect other aspects of life like your productivity and cognitive function.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you shall immediately see a professional for sleep apnea treatment in San Antonio before you are at an increased risk.

Risks of Sleep Apnea

When you are having sleep apnea, you are at risk of developing other serious health problems. The condition is directly linked to an increased risk of diabetes, heart problems, and other health issues. Due to poor sleep quality, your immune system can also be negatively affected which makes you vulnerable to falling ill and catching infections.

Managing Sleep Apnea

There are many ways to manage sleep apnea condition effectively which includes:

Oral Devices

Oral devices like a tongue retainer device keeps your tongue from blocking the airway while you are sleeping.

CPAP Machines

This machine includes wearing a mask at night which aids you in breathing normally and get a sound sleep.

Sleep Apnea Pillows

These pillows can be used to elevate your body from the waist up and thereby helps in preventing your airway from collapsing when you sleep. These pillows can also be combined with a CPAP machine.

Weight Management

As obesity is considered a risk factor for sleep apnea, managing your weight and leading a healthier lifestyle could help alleviate the condition.

Moreover, other behaviour and lifestyle changes like eating right, improving your sleep habits, reducing consumption of alcohol, and changing sleep position could also help alleviate the sleep apnea condition.

If you are struggling with sleep apnea and are looking for ways to effectively manage it, contact our sleep apnea center in San Antonio for sustainable relief. We will determine the root cause and would advise you accordingly.