Snoring Causes Lack of Sleep
While snoring may seem like a common occurrence in many individuals, some cases of snoring may be pointing to a larger health problem. If you’ve been struggling to sleep due to snoring from you or your partner, it may be a sign of sleep apnea. When heavy snoring or sleep apnea goes untreated, the issues caused by them can worsen.
At our Greensboro office, sleep dentist Dr. Katz treats both snoring and sleep apnea. He’ll make sure you get the appropriate care so you can get the sleep you deserve. Even if you’re not suffering from sleep apnea, he can provide relief for your snoring with effective treatment options.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring occurs when air flows past relaxed tissues in your throat, causing the tissues to vibrate as you breathe. These vibrations make a snorting, rattling, or grumbling sound. Heavy snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea, a serious medical condition that causes patients to stop breathing several times each night.
Sleep apnea makes you feel fatigued and cranky during the day and impairs your intellectual function. Sleep apnea also increases your chances of suffering from serious medical consequences. If you suffer from heavy snoring and you think you might have sleep apnea, it’s essential to get the proper diagnosis and treatment right away.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
There are two major types of sleep apnea — obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA).
- OSA occurs when the patient’s airflow is blocked by an obstruction in the airway somewhere between the nasal passage and the lungs.
- CSA occurs when the brain fails to signal the body to breathe during sleep.
OSA affects 20 percent of American adults; out of them, 90 percent are undiagnosed. For patients with OSA, the blockage causes them to stop breathing several times during the night. This results in a serious reduction in the amount of oxygen traveling to the brain. At this point, the patient will often wake up gasping for air.
Although patients with OSA don’t usually remember waking up throughout the night, this sleep disruption can have significant consequences for their health and well-being.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatments
Ignoring your sleep apnea can be fatal. People with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to suffer serious medical consequences. Fortunately, at our Greensboro office, we offer oral appliance therapy to alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms. Oral appliances are custom-made mouthpieces that you wear during sleep.
Dr. Katz will make sure you get the right diagnosis and essential care to make your snoring go away. That way, you and the people closest to you can wake up every morning feeling refreshed and ready to go.
To schedule a consultation with our Greensboro sleep dentist, call our office today at (336) 346-8988.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sleep apnea be cured?
One of the ways to cure sleep apnea is to have a uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPP) surgery to remove excess tissue from the pharynx and soft palate. However, the surgery is invasive and is only performed as a last resort.
Some lifestyle modifications may help to reduce symptoms, but they may also need to be paired with professional treatments to be effective.
Natural lifestyle remedies for sleep apnea include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Regular exercise
- Side-sleeping
- Using a humidifier
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption
Can slender people have sleep apnea?
While most people with OSA are overweight, there are some exceptions. Patients with a narrowed airway can also suffer from the disorder, regardless of their size. If you think you have sleep apnea, schedule a consultation with Dr. Katz at our Greensboro office at (336) 346-8988.
During the consultation, he’ll examine your mouth, throat, posture, body mass, and the soft tissue surrounding your upper airway to check for any areas that may cause an obstruction. During this time, he may recommend a sleep study so we can get a clear diagnosis of your condition.
What is a sleep study?
A sleep study is a non-invasive, overnight study that’s conducted and supervised by a professional sleep physician to diagnose your symptoms. The study will track your brain wave patterns, oxygen level, heart rate, snoring, etc. Once you receive your diagnosis, Dr. Katz will find the treatment that best fits your needs.
What happens if you don’t treat sleep apnea?
If your sleep apnea is left untreated, it can be fatal to you and others around you. It can cause your relationships with others to strain and have multiple health consequences such as:
- Strokes and heart attacks
- Anxiety and depression
- Insomnia
- Low sex drive
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Memory problems
- Headaches
If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, call our Greensboro office at (336) 346-8988 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Katz.
Get the Good Night’s Sleep You Deserve
If you believe you’re suffering from sleep apnea, Dr. Katz can help you get the treatment you need to get a good night’s sleep. To schedule a consultation, call our Greensboro office at (336) 346-8988 to get started today. You can also fill out our online contact form below and one of our staff members will be happy to assist you.
Dr. Katz proudly offers his years of expertise to patients in the Greensboro area as well as the surrounding areas including Winston-Salem, Whitsett, Summerfield, and Kernersville, NC. We look forward to helping you get the sleep you deserve.