Does loud snoring keep you up at night? If you, or someone close to you, suffer from chronically loud snoring, intermittent choking, or other sleep disturbances, you may need sleep apnea and snoring therapy. Sleep apnea and snoring are separate but related conditions stemming from the interruption of airflow as you sleep. Untreated sleep apnea and snoring not only rob you of a good night’s rest, but could also pose serious health risks. Make an appointment with Dr. Papageorgiou at Papageorgiou Dental Associates today for the sleep apnea and snoring treatment you need to finally get a good night’s sleep. Dr. Papageorgiou is an experienced sleep apnea doctor. Papageorgiou Dental Associates proudly serves families throughout Natick, MA, Framingham, Wayland, Sudbury, Wellesley, and the surrounding communities.
What Causes Sleep Apnea and Snoring?
While we’re awake, our throat muscles keep our airway open so that air can flow freely in and out of our lungs. But as we sleep, these muscles can relax, narrowing our airway. Normally, this narrowing doesn’t prevent air from flowing into and out of our lungs. However, if you have sleep apnea, your throat muscles and tongue relax more than normal, and your airway could become partially or fully blocked as you sleep. As a result, loud snoring and drops in blood oxygen levels can occur. If the oxygen drops to a dangerous level, it triggers your brain to interrupt your sleep to reopen your windpipe. Normal breathing then starts again, but with a loud snort or choking sound.
Why Is Untreated Sleep Apnea And Snoring So Dangerous?
These frequent drops in your blood oxygen levels and reduced sleep can trigger the release of stress hormones in your body. These hormones then raise your heart rate and increase your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeats. The hormones also can raise your risk for heart failure. Untreated sleep apnea may lead to changes in how your body uses energy, increasing your risk for obesity and diabetes.
What Are Your Sleep Apnea And Snoring Treatment Options?
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure): CPAP is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. A CPAP machine uses a small mask that fits over your mouth or nose as you sleep. However, CPAP treatment is not well tolerated by many patients and can cause side effects including: a dry or stuffy nose, irritated skin, dry mouth, headaches, stomach bloating and other discomfort.
Oral Appliance Therapy: Oral appliance therapy is the less invasive alternative for sleep apnea and snoring treatment. A custom fitted oral appliance could help if you have sleep apnea, or if you snore loudly but don’t have sleep apnea. Either way, Dr. Papageorgiou can diagnose your case and design and fabricate a custom-fitted solution. The oral appliance will adjust your lower jaw and your tongue to help keep your airways open while you sleep, thus eliminating the effects of the conditions.
Natick Sleep Apnea and Snoring Treatment Appointments
Don’t lose anymore sleep unnecessarily. Make your sleep apnea and snoring therapy appointment with Dr. Papageorgiou at Papageorgiou Dental Associates today. Dr. Papageorgiou is a highly qualified family dentist. Papageorgiou Dental Associates proudly serves patients of all ages daily throughout Natick, MA, Framingham, Wayland, Sudbury, Wellesley, and nearby cities.
Sometimes, it can take years before you find out you have a snoring problem. Someone might let you know at a sleepover when you’re still young, or maybe a significant other elbows you in the middle of the night because you’re keeping them up. You might even wake yourself up once in a while! Most of the time, snoring is just a harmless, if annoying habit – but did you know that it can indicate a deeper problem?