Sleep Apnea Causes & Symptoms
Sleep is a restorative process. When you sleep, your mind and body can rest and heal. Sleep apnea is a condition that affects the quality of your sleep. When you have sleep apnea, you stop breathing while you sleep, which causes you to wake up. Not only does this leave you feeling exhausted every morning, but it can also leave you unable to perform daily tasks. It can also leave you susceptible to serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and more.
 While many people joke that sleep is not all that important, and that they can function on little to no sleep, the truth is that sleep is incredibly important. At David R. Moyer Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, we can help you to understand the causes and symptoms of sleep apnea, as well as what you can do to prevent it from occurring.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?There are three types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea syndrome or mixed sleep apnea. Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep ApneaObstructive sleep apnea is caused when your airway becomes partially or completely blocked by your tongue or other oral tissues while you sleep, which prevents you from breathing.
This can be caused by:
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Obesity
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Jaw alignment issues
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Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
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Lifestyle habits such as smoking or alcohol consumption |
Central Sleep ApneaCentral sleep apnea is caused by a miscommunication between your brain and the muscles that control your breathing. With this type of sleep apnea, your brain temporarily fails to signal your breathing muscles, which leads to pauses in your breathing. Central sleep apnea is often caused by certain types of medical issues and conditions that affect your brainstem.
Common causes of central sleep apnea include:
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Parkinson’s disease.
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Obesity.
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Heart failure.
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Brain infections and stroke. |
What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea? One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is waking up day after day feeling incredibly exhausted.
Other symptoms of sleep apnea include:
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Loud snoring
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Difficulty focusing
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Waking up gasping for air
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Waking up with dry mouth
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Headaches upon waking up
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Trouble staying awake during the day
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Irritability or difficulty controlling your emotions |
What are the Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea?There are a few different factors that can increase your risk of developing sleep apnea.
These risk factors include:
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Men are more likely than women to suffer sleep apnea.
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Older adults are at greater risk
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Having a large neck circumference
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Lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking
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Having a small lower jaw
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Hypothyroidism
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Obesity |
How Can I Prevent Sleep Apnea?There are a few different ways in which sleep apnea can be prevented.
These preventions include:
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Maintain a healthy weight
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Have alignment issues corrected
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Quit smoking and alcohol consumption
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Use a night guard while you sleep. This is a common treatment for those who snore.
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Change sleep positions. This can stop the tissues from falling into, and blocking, your airway. |
Questions About Sleep Apnea?Sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects more than just your sleep. For more information on sleep apnea and how to treat it, call David R. Moyer Cosmetic & Family Dentistry at 480.935.6295 today. |
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