Is Your Cellphone Detrimental to Sleep Apnea Treatment in Aledo?

If you’ve been told that you snore loudly and make gasping sounds while sleeping, then there is a chance that you’re suffering from sleep apnea. Thankfully, there are therapeutic options available to help you get the rest you desperately need. When you’re receiving sleep apnea treatment in Aledo, though, your cellphone usage could possibly be counterproductive to your efforts. Read on to find out why.

An Overview of What Sleep Apnea is

Sleep apnea refers to the cyclical lapses in your breathing while you slumber, and the most common type is Obstructed Sleep Apnea (OSA). There can be a host of factors that contribute to this condition, ranging from poor jaw alignment to weight gain.

The result can be a partial blockage of the airway that causes lapses in breathing. When this happens, the brain sends a warning message that causes you to awaken repeatedly throughout the night.

Common Treatment Methods

The more common ways of treating OSA are the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine and oral appliances. However, these are not the sole means of responding to the condition.

Alternative Forms of Therapy

The reason that alternative methods for treating OSA are valid contributors is that there are several factors that affect the quality of sleep you have. One simple change you can make in your normal routine is to adjust your usage of your cellphone before retiring for bed.

A recent study shows that people with higher cellphone usage are more likely to suffer from poor sleep. The study also reveals that for many people, there is a peak in usage at night that correlates with a greater predisposition to develop sleep apnea.

Here are some of the negative side effects that come about when you don’t get the proper amount and quality of sleep:

• Obesity
• Slow metabolism
• Poor heart health
• Immune dysfunction
• Greater chance of stroke

A remedy is to stop using your cellphone at least 30 minutes before retiring for bed to prevent the overstimulation of your brain that could stop you from getting the rest you need.

Another Lifestyle Change You Can Consider

You can replace your nighttime cellphone usage with reading a book before retiring for bed. This simple change helps to settle and relax your brain in preparation for a healthy sleep cycle.

If you suspect that you have OSA, it’s important to let your physician know so that a sleep study can be performed. Then by working with a local sleep dentist, you can get on the road to recovery.

About the Author

Dr. Deborah A. Romack is a graduate of Baylor College of Dentistry. She has since received extensive training in treating airway obstruction, snoring, OSA and upper airway resistance syndrome. Dr. Romack combines her years of experience with the latest in dental technology to help patients get the rest they need at Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine, and she can be reached for more information through her website.