It’s National Sleep Awareness Week – Here’s What You Should Know

National Sleep Awareness Week has arrived! We all look forward to a long night of much-needed rest, but quality sleep can be very difficult for someone with sleep apnea to achieve. This sleep disorder is very common, as it affects anywhere from 50 to 70 million Americans! Read on to learn more about sleep apnea, its symptoms, what causes it, and how it can be managed.

What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

When you think of sleep apnea, your mind likely goes to loud snoring. While this is one of the most common symptoms of the disorder, there are many more harmful symptoms. Here are some of them:

• Dry mouth
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Insomnia
• Frequent irritability
• Hypersomnia during the day
• Headaches after waking
• Inattention

What Are the Causes of Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes narrow and blocked during sleep. This results in breathing stopping repeatedly throughout the night. Here are some of the common factors that increase your risk of sleep apnea:

• Obesity: If you are overweight, this significantly increases your risk of sleep apnea. This is because fat deposits around your upper airway can obstruct your breathing.
• Narrow Airway: People who have a more narrow throat are more likely to encounter obstructions.
• Males: Men are two to three times more likely to develop sleep apnea than women are.
• Family History: If you have family members with this condition, you are at higher risk yourself.
• Smoking: Smoking can increase the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in your upper airway.
• Alcohol Use: Alcohol, sedatives, and tranquilizers relax the muscles of the throat and cause worsened sleep apnea.
• Medical Conditions: Some medical conditions, like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and congestive heart failure, can contribute to sleep apnea.

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

There are a variety of different ways to treat sleep apnea depending on each unique case:

• Lifestyle Changes: If someone has mild sleep apnea, it can sometimes be resolved by making lifestyle changes. Losing excess weight, abstaining from smoking and drinking alcohol, and sleeping in alternative positions can all improve symptoms.
• CPAP Therapy: This treatment involves the patient wearing a mask over their nose while they sleep. The mask is hooked up to a machine that delivers a constant flow of air to the nose. This helps to keep the airways open so that breathing is made easier. However, many find this mask and machine to be uncomfortable, resulting in noncompliance.
• Oral Appliance Therapy: Patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea who don’t tolerate CPAP may find an oral appliance effective. They are custom-made by your dentist and work in the mouth during sleep. They support the jaw in a forward position to maintain an open airway.

If you think that you might have sleep apnea, there is no better time than now to seek help. This National Sleep Awareness Week, gift yourself a quality night of sleep.

About the Author

Dr. Derek Song earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He holds advanced certifications in a wide variety of advanced services and is a proud member of the Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, and Massachusetts Dental Society. To learn more about oral appliance therapy or to schedule an appointment at his office in Burlington, visit his website or call (781) 272-5890.