Snoring / Sleep Apnea
Is Snoring or Sleep Apnea Affecting Your Health? Does Snoring Keep You or Your Partner Awake at Night?
Snoring is often dismissed as an annoyance, but it can actually be a sign of a very serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea. OSA is affects about two-thirds of all adults and can lead to serious medical problems.
What Happens During OSA?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your airway becomes blocked during sleep. The body then struggles to obtain air, which causes snoring and gasping for air. This happens multiple times each night, leaving your body starved for the oxygen it requires to run efficiently. Much of the time the body will continue to get just enough air to avoid harm, but over time, the repeated lack of oxygen takes its toll on your health.
Sleep apnea patients are often unaware of what is happening. Apneic episodes can occur between thirty to sixty times a night, causing sufferers to feel exhausted when they wake up, as though they haven’t really been sleeping. In fact, they have spent much of the night fighting for air, so it’s no wonder they experience the following symptoms:
- Waking with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Waking with a headache
- Excessive daytime drowsiness
- Frequent trips to the bathroom during the night
The Dangers of OSA
If snoring and sleepiness were the worst of it, obstructive sleep apnea wouldn’t be so concerning. The truth is, those who suffer with OSA are more likely to experience more concerning medical conditions, such as:
- High blood pressure and stroke
- Heart disease and heart attacks
- Diabetes
- Acid reflux disease
- Sexual disorders such as impotence
- Mood disorders such as depression and anxiety
- Increased risk of accidents due to sleep-deprivation
Where We Come In
In order to find out if you should request a sleep study, take our online sleep quiz. A sleep study will determine whether or not you have apnea, how severe the condition is, and will provide us with the information we need to provide treatment. While the standard treatment for OSA used to require sufferers to wear cumbersome masks attached to a machine that uses continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to keep the airway open during sleep, more than 90% of people experience success with a customized oral appliance. How can you benefit from an oral appliance? Here are just a few ways:
- Enjoy the convenience of a subtle device that is completely portable
- Sleep without the sound of a CPAP machine
- Sleep in your most comfortable position
- Enjoy a full night’s sleep (and let your partner enjoy a silent night)
- Feel energized and alert during the day
Contact Dr. Kevin Carbonell: Your Dentist in Boca Raton
2500 N. Military Trail, #230 – Boca Raton, FL 33431
Mon: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tues: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wed: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thurs: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fri: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Admin Only)