Sleep Apnea in Mineral Wells: Complications and Health Risks

Nothing makes you feel better or more productive than a good night’s rest! If you find yourself waking up with headaches, or feeling exhausted throughout the day, chances are you’re not getting adequate rest. Did you know that you might suffer from a sleep disorder known as sleep apnea? When you body doesn’t get the rest and rejuvenation it needs, it can lead to many other health concerns. Your Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine team is here to discuss the complications and health risks of sleep apnea in Mineral Wells.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when your airway becomes obstructed causing you to stop breathing during the night. Your brain is alerted because of the lack of oxygen, and it signals you to wake up. You probably don’t even notice that you’re waking up, but this can actually happen multiple, even hundreds of times throughout the night. For this reason, your organs are not getting the oxygen they need and your body is not getting much-needed rest, even though it seems as if you’ve slept for a full night.

The Health Risks of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is very dangerous and contributes to a host of other serious medical conditions such as:

• Cardiovascular disease and heart failure
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Depression
• Weight gain

If left untreated, sleep apnea can put your health at great risk. It can also affect your daily life and your ability to perform and excel at your normal daily activities.

How is Sleep Apnea Treated?

After being properly diagnosed through a sleep study, the standard form of treatment for sleep apnea is the CPAP machine, or continuous positive airway pressure therapy. This is where pressurized oxygen is delivered to you through a mask, in order to keep your airway unobstructed, and you breathing freely throughout the night. Many patients however find it difficult to wear the mask while they’re sleeping.

Modern dentistry has also devised a treatment for sleep apnea, and that is through a specially designed oral appliance. Custom made for each patient, the appliance helps to move your jaw slightly forward while you sleep, which helps to open up your airway. Oral appliances fit much like a retainer, and are comfortable to wear.

Dr. Deborah Romack, has extensive training in the field of sleep apnea, and has dedicated much of her practice to helping patients manage this life threatening condition. She works hand in hand with your physician to determine the best treatment for you, and sometimes it’s a combination of CPAP and an oral appliance.

Contact our office today to learn more about our sleep evaluation, and how we can help you get a good night’s rest.