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Why Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Oakton Is Vital

September 19, 2017

Filed under: Uncategorized — oakton @ 2:54 am

When beloved Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher passed away, all her fans wanted to know what caused her death. While several factors came into play, a surprising contributor to her passing was sleep apnea. It’s a serious condition that affects millions of Americans. Unfortunately, many of them do not know they have it. What are the dangers of undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea in Oakton? Your dentist explains. What Sleep Apnea Does to Your Body There are different types of sleep apnea, but obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. When something, such as your tongue or other soft tissue in your throat, relaxes too much, it blocks your upper airway, causing you to temporarily stop breathing. Since you quickly start breathing again, is sleep apnea really dangerous? Yes, for several reasons: • OSA interferes with the quality of your sleep. Not getting sufficient rest can raise the chances that you’ll suffer from diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and other health problems. • OSA can raise stress levels, contributing to high blood pressure and taking away from your enjoyment of life. • Being exhausted all of the time because of OSA can lower your alertness levels while you’re driving. You are therefore more likely to get into a serious motor vehicle accident. How to Recognize Sleep Apnea Clearly, obstructive sleep apnea is a dangerous health condition. But since it happens during your shuteye hours, how can you know if you have it? If you sleep with a partner, ask that person if you snore or stop breathing during the night. These are two major indicators of OSA. If you sleep alone, there are other symptoms you can keep an eye out for: • You wake up suddenly, gasping for air. • You have a dry mouth or sore throat in the mornings. • You frequently wake up with a headache. • You’re irritable or have trouble paying attention. • You’re excessively tired during the day. Do you suspect that you have OSA? Head to your physician, who can arrange for you to undergo a sleep test. You might have to spend the night in a sleep lab or take home a monitoring machine so a medical professional can make a diagnosis. Treatment for Sleep Apnea Treatment for sleep apnea is vital, but the good news is that it may also be simple. Some people need a CPAP machine, but that isn’t your only option. Your dentist may be able to design a custom oral appliance. It will gently reposition your jaw and place pressure on your throat muscles so your airway stays clear while you’re getting your Zs. Don’t underestimate the seriousness of sleep apnea. If you’re experiencing any of its symptoms, head to your doctor as soon as you can so you can receive a diagnosis and treatment. About Oakton Dentistry by Design Drs. Pasquale J. Giodano and Joseph A. Khalil are proud to provide a range of dental services to their patients. They can also design custom oral appliances to help you sleep better at night. If you’ve been diagnosed with OSA, contact us at 703-938-4300 so we can discuss your treatment options.When beloved Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher passed away, all her fans wanted to know what caused her death. While several factors came into play, a surprising contributor to her passing was sleep apnea. It’s a serious condition that affects millions of Americans. Unfortunately, many of them do not know they have it. What are the dangers of undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea in Oakton? Your dentist explains.

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