Sleep Apnea in Fort Worth can be Deadly

Is your snoring just a nuisance, or does it jeopardize your systemic health? Sleep apnea in Fort Worth is a harmful sleep disorder, and loud, persistent snoring is just one of its many symptoms. Dr. Deborah A. Romack of Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine partners with patients and their primary care physicians to treat sleep apnea for restful sleep and better overall health.

The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

The loved ones in your household complain of your loud and persistent snoring. You appear to stop breathing several times a night and wake startled and gasping for air. Plus, you have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Daytime sleepiness and fatigue
• Acid reflux
• Memory and concentration problems
• Depression
• A dry and sore throat
• Dry mouth
• Headaches

These issues frequently result from sleep apnea and its associated oxygen deprivation. Sleep physicians say that some of their patients with sleep apnea wake during the night approximately 100 times, causing liver problems, Type-2 diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure.

Studies cited by online journals, Medscape and WebMD, show increased incidence of insomnia and sudden cardiac death in individuals with sleep apnea. Physicians and sleep dentists, such as Dr. Deborah Romack of Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine, do not exaggerate when they say sleep apnea can be deadly.

Kinds of Sleep Apnea

There are three basic kinds of sleep apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA, Complex Sleep Apnea, or CSA, and Mixed Sleep Apnea. OSA happens when the soft tissues at the back of the throat relax, collapse over the airway and block the free flow of oxygen.  CSA happens when the brain does not signal the respiratory system to take a breath. MIxed Sleep Apnea combines features of the other two kinds.

While people of varying ages and ethnicities suffer from sleep apnea, some people are more prone–including:

• Men over 40
• Obese individuals, particularly those with a thick neck circumference
• Smokers and people who abuse alcohol
• Individuals with allergy and sinus issues or enlarged tonsils
• Postmenopausal women

Fort Worth Sleep Apnea Treatment

Diagnosed by a sleep physician, sleep apnea can be treated. Your sleep apnea dentist in Fort Worth helps OSA with customized snore guards either used alone or in combination with CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.The custom-made oral appliance, or snore guard, treats sleep apnea by placing the lower jaw into a more forward position, keeping the airway open during the night.

CPAP machines deliver a constant flow of oxygen through a nasal mask. This airflow opens the obstruction at the back of the throat. Unfortunately, however, some patients find CPAP uncomfortable because they are claustrophobic or don’t like the noise of the bedside apparatus. A snore guard could replace CPAP or allow a patient to use CPAP less, and the appliance is portable, a great convenience when traveling.

Undisturbed Sleep is Valuable

Dr. Romack is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine with many continuing education hours on dentistry as it relates to sleep apnea. She works with patients and their physicians to screen for sleep apnea and to arrive at the proper treatment of this worrisome disorder.

Find out if your snoring is sleep apnea. Contact Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine to set up a consultation. Dr. Romack and her team will help you achieve a restful–and healthy–night’s sleep.