Help for Sleep Apnea

It can be annoying when you have one or two nights when you don’t sleep well. But if you have a sleep disorder, your lack of sleep goes beyond annoying – night after night of bad sleep, or no sleep at all, can even be dangerous to your health. However, you do have options available to you if you are suffering with a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. 

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder in which the patient has problems breathing while they are asleep. You may have very labored breathing, or you may stop breathing and not even realize it, even though it can last for up to a minute. When you do start breathing again, you have to gasp for air. This cycle can continue throughout the night. 

Because your sleep is disturbed, you may have difficulty staying awake during the day. You might also be irritable and have headaches, snore loudly, and have dry mouth. Long-term problems from sleep apnea can include high blood pressure and metabolic and liver problems.   

Certain people are more at risk for sleep apnea, including men, older adults, smokers, and those who are overweight or have asthma, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or Parkinson disease. 

Sleep apnea treatments

Your doctor may advise some simple lifestyle changes to help your sleep problems, such as losing weight or sleeping on your side. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, which work to get air into the airway, are also a common treatment. However, some patients find that CPAP machines are cumbersome and uncomfortable. 

Oral appliances, custom-made mouthpieces that move the jaw and tongue to help air get into the airway, are another option, one that some patients find much more comfortable than a CPAP. Other options, such as cognitive behavior therapy and surgery for the sinuses, tonsils, or adenoids, are also available. 

Getting lots of good sleep is good for your mental and physical health. You don't have to live with sleep problems; there are many treatment options available. Lakeside Allergy ENT can help you find the one that is right for you! Call (972) 771-5443 today for an appointment at the Rockwall and Forney office.