Do you have trouble feeling rested after a full night’s sleep? Do you go to bed at reasonable hours but still wake up feeling tired? Have you been told you snore loudly when you’re sleeping?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you may be suffering from sleep apnea disorder.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that can be quite serious.
People with sleep apnea repeatedly stop and start breathing as they sleep. This occurs as the throat tissues and tongue relax and subsequently block the airway. This temporarily stops breathing, which can cause the patient to wake up repeatedly throughout the night.
After a patient has woken up, they will fall asleep again. Patients often begin snoring. The muscles will once again relax, and breathing will stop. This cycle repeats throughout the night.
You may be suffering from sleep apnea if you:
- Snore loudly.
- Wake up with a dry or sore throat.
- Remember occasionally waking up with a gasping sensation.
- Only get restless sleep.
- Experience sleepiness when driving.
- Have morning headaches.
- Have a lack of energy or sleepiness during the day.
- Are more forgetful.
- Deal with mood swings.
It is important for patients to be aware of sleep apnea, its symptoms, causes, and the available treatments. At Sunflower Dental, Dr. Dani works to bring awareness to patients about the connection between the mouth and a good night’s sleep.
Screening for Sleep Apnea at Sunflower Dental
Patients who think they might be suffering from sleep apnea can come into our office at Sunflower Dental to participate in a sleep apnea screening. This entails answering questionnaires that will give Dr. Dani a good idea if you might be dealing with sleep apnea or not.
Dr. Dani can then help you take the next step towards getting answers about your sleeping issues by directing you to a physician who can issue a sleep study.
Sleep Studies
Patients who might be dealing with sleep apnea can participate in sleep studies that can determine the causes behind their sleeping issues. These studies can provide much-needed answers.
We encourage all our patients who might screen positive for potential sleep apnea to get in touch with their physicians to talk about diagnosis right away. Physicians can then provide treatment recommendations that will help patients breathe better at night.
Let Us Help You Find Answers
We would love to play a role in helping you find answers to your sleep troubles. Contact our office today to set up a screening for sleep apnea today.