The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

According to the American Sleep Association, 50-70 million adults in the United States have a sleep disorder. Plus, 48% of Americans reportedly snore. If snoring is keeping you or your family members awake at night, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.

Located in Austin, Texas, AnnMarie Olson DDS, PA and her expert team are sleep apnea specialists, trained to diagnose and remedy sleep disorders using minimally invasive treatments. One such treatment is a customized oral appliance.

What causes my snoring?

When you’re awake, the muscles in your throat are active, controlling the structures in the back of your throat and the flow of air. As you sleep, your body relaxes. When you’re snoring, it’s because the relaxed structures in the back of your throat vibrate, making noise as air flows in and out of your mouth.

When your throat muscles relax during sleep, your airways can become blocked, and you may stop breathing momentarily. This condition is called sleep apnea.

Do I have sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is characterized by repeated pauses in your breathing throughout the night. Loud snoring and gasping for breath are just two of the signs that you have this sleep disorder. Here are some additional signs of sleep apnea:

• Waking with a dry mouth
• Experiencing headaches in the morning
• Difficulty staying awake during the day
• Decreased sex drive
• Poor memory
• Irritability

You may feel like you never get a full night’s rest. If you often feel tired, it’s likely that you aren’t getting quality sleep, and sleep apnea could be to blame. 

There are some risk factors associated with sleep apnea. These factors increase your chances of developing this chronic sleep disorder:

• Smoking
• Being overweight
• Having a family history of sleep apnea
• Being older
• Being male
• Having allergies
• Using alcohol or sedatives

Not everyone who snores loudly suffers from sleep apnea. See a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

What can an oral appliance do?

If someone tells you that you snore loudly or gasp for breath during the night, it’s time to make an appointment with AnnMarie Olson, DDS, PA. For moderate to severe sleep apnea, you may require an oral appliance to help get a better night’s sleep. An oral appliance properly positions your jaw while you sleep, which helps keep your airway open, preventing obstruction and correcting this common sleep disorder.

Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep. If your snoring is keeping you or your family awake, make an appointment today by calling 512-212-5231.