Identifying Sleep Apnea in Mineral Wells: What are the Causes and Treatment

If you’ve been accused of snoring lately, it may mean that you’re keeping your bed partner awake at night. If that’s the case you may be snoring too loudly, which may not seem like a big deal, but it can actually be an indicator of more serious health concerns. Snoring is one of the signs of sleep apnea, which is a dangerous sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing during the night. Here we’ll learn more about identifying sleep apnea in Mineral Wells.

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

When the muscles in the back of your throat relax they can block your airway, which causes snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. When oxygen levels in your blood drop, your brain alerts your body to wake up and reopen your airway. The waking is so brief that you may not even notice, however it can occur multiple even hundreds of times per night.

Though you may not realize you’re waking up, your body is not getting the rest that it needs, which may cause you to feel tired throughout the day. Other symptoms of sleep apnea are:

• Headaches
• Irritability
• Chronic fatigue
• Weight gain
• Difficulties focusing and concentrating throughout the day

It may be difficult to determine if you have sleep apnea, however if your bed partner notices that you wake up coughing or gasping, or that you snore loudly enough to keep them awake, it may be time to consult your physician. You can also take a sleep test to determine if you have sleep apnea.

How is Sleep Apnea Treated?

After you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, the standard of care your physician will typically recommend is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. This involves carefully regulated oxygen administered through a mask worn at night that is pressurized to keep your airway open as you sleep, allowing you to breathe freely throughout the night. Many patients have difficulties with the CPAP because it’s challenging to sleep with a large mask over your face and the machine can be loud.

There is another treatment option for sleep apnea that many patients are having great success with, and that is an oral appliance. Dr. Deborah Romack has extensive training in the field of sleep apnea and she specializes in helping patients successfully manage their condition by creating customized oral appliances designed to help keep the airway open during sleep.

The appliance fits much like a retainer and can be comfortably worn throughout the night. Dr. Romack will perform a thorough examination to determine how severe your sleep apnea is and what type of appliance will be right for your needs. For severe cases of sleep apnea, she may recommend CPAP therapy combined with an oral appliance.

If you struggle with sleep apnea in Weatherford, you no longer have to lose the precious rest at night that your body needs and deserves! Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you successfully manage sleep apnea.