Improve Your Sleep Quality and Health with Sleep Apnea Treatment
Daytime fatigue, despite a full night’s sleep, can be frustrating and might indicate underlying health issues. Often, the cause can be obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), especially if accompanied by chronic snoring, morning headaches, and fragmented sleep. OSA is a severe sleep disorder that must be treated immediately before it causes further health complications.Â
Dr. Ban R. Barbat offers sleep apnea treatment in Shelby Township, Michigan, and the nearby locations. While the standard treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP therapy, our office has a simple yet effective treatment. If you suspect sleep apnea, don’t wait any longer. Please schedule an appointment with our office today!
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
OSA is characterized by stop-and-start breathing cycles when sleeping. Often, this occurs when the soft tissues in the throat relax excessively when sleeping, blocking the airway partially or wholly. When the oxygen is cut off, the brain senses oxygen deprivation and awakens the body to restore normal breathing. These awakenings occur so quickly that you may not notice them even when they happen up to a hundred times at night! Since you no longer reach your deep restorative sleep, you wake up feeling tired.Â
The common symptoms of sleep apnea include:Â
- Chronic snoring
- Waking up with a dry throat
- Gasping or choking for air when sleeping
- Morning headaches
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Irritability and mood changes
- Insomnia or disrupted sleep
- Loss of sex drive
- Concentration lapse during the day
Why sleep apnea is too dangerous to ignore?
Don’t ignore sleep apnea as a mere snoring inconvenience—its health consequences are far-reaching. Beyond the obvious disruption to sleep, untreated sleep apnea can significantly affect your overall well-being.
Its health complications include:Â
- Cardiovascular risks: Oxygen deprivations make the heart work harder, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
- Metabolic effects: OSA can contribute to insulin resistance and weight gain, heightening the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Mental health: Interrupted sleep and chronic fatigue can exacerbate anxiety, depression, and memory problems.
- Compromised safety: Poor concentration and daytime fatigue increase the frequency of workplace errors and motor vehicle accidents.
How does a Shelby Township dentist treat sleep apnea?
We treat sleep apnea after confirming its diagnosis. Often, sleep apnea is diagnosed with a sleep apnea test at home or a sleep study center. Traditionally, CPAP therapy has been the standard treatment for mild to moderate OSA. A CPAP device uses a mask strapped on your head to force air past your airway to keep it open when sleeping. CPAPs work, but many patients discontinue CPAPs because of irritability, noise, and bulkiness.Â
We have a simpler and more effective treatment for patients who can’t tolerate CPAP therapy. Oral appliance therapy (OAT) uses a custom-fitted oral device to reposition your jaws and tongue to optimize breathing when sleeping. A sleep apnea nightguard is comfortable, easy to use, portable, and discreet. It’s also effective. After a few days of use, you’ll experience improved sleep quality and productive days at work and home.Â
Ready for sleep apnea treatment near Shelby Township?
Don’t ignore daytime fatigue or sleepiness—it’s your body’s signal that something might be amiss. Do you suspect sleep apnea? Have you been using CPAP therapy and have had enough of it? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Barbat to determine if oral appliance therapy works for you—call (586) 551-7255 to schedule an appointment.Â
