When you have obstructive sleep apnea – a disorder that causes you to stop breathing in your sleep – there are several different ways in which it can affect your sleep and your life. For instance, sleep apnea stops you from entering deep levels of sleep, such as Rapid Eye Movement (R.E.M.), which can cause you to grow increasingly more sleep deprived. By treating sleep apnea, preferably with a custom-designed oral appliance, you can alleviate the cause behind your sleep apnea so you can rest peacefully each night. As you sleep more soundly, you’ll also notice several related benefits of finally treating your sleep apnea.
Your habit of snoring loudly
One of the most distinctive signs of sleep apnea is a chronic habit of snoring loudly every night. This results from the obstruction in your airway caused by mouth and throat tissues collapsing into it. The air passing through the smaller airway does so at a greater pressure, causing the tissues and walls in your throat to vibrate loudly, which accounts for the sound of snoring. As the obstruction grows, the sound of your snoring grows louder, then stops as you’re forced to stop breathing. A sleep appliance works by supporting your lower jaw and keeping your airway open throughout the night, preventing this obstruction and, therefore, your snoring habit.
Your sleep pattern in general
The biggest problem with sleep apnea is that it’s a cycle. When you stop breathing, your body and brain will panic from lack of oxygen wake up enough to clear your airway and start breathing again. As your body settles back down to sleep, the obstruction will occur again, interrupting your sleep before you can reach R.E.M. sleep. These constant interruptions to your sleep pattern make it impossible for your body to rest and recuperate properly, as it’s supposed to during deep levels of sleep. The result can be increasing symptoms of sleep deprivation, including tiredness and fatigue, mental fogginess, heightened irritability, and more. Studies have also shown that untreated sleep apnea has a strong correlation to hypertension (high blood pressure) and other cardiovascular health risks.
Your ability to sleep without CPAP
For many patients with sleep apnea, the traditional solution is to wear a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and mask. CPAP provides a gentle stream of air through a mask that helps keep your airway open as you sleep. However, for some patients, it can be cumbersome and uncomfortable, making it difficult to sleep anyway. As a more comfortable alternative, you may benefit from a custom-designed sleep appliance, which relies on comfortable support for your jaw and oral structures rather than applying positive air pressure.
Benefit from custom sleep apnea treatment
Sleep apnea can have several different impacts on your life. With a custom-designed sleep appliance, however, you can reduce or eliminate those impacts and finally get the quality sleep you deserve. For more information, schedule a visit by calling Syosset Dental in Syosset, NY today at 516-433-2211 or 516-921-1678.
