Sleep apnea treatment in Lawton can get to the root of your insomnia and fatigue, helping you to finally get a good night’s rest. Sleep therapists use a variety of modern tools to monitor what’s going on in your body as you slumber. This enables them to diagnose problems such as sleep apnea, a common condition that afflicts millions of Americans.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
While you sleep, your body constantly monitors your breathing, heart rate and other factors to ensure you’re okay. If something unexpected occurs, such as a loud noise, then it will wake you up so you can take action. This survival mechanism is important for our well-being.
Sometimes our waking mechanism can act against us, however. For example, let’s say your sinus passages or windpipe become partially blocked while you’re asleep. If this happens, then your body may arouse you long enough to change positions but not long enough for you to realize you’re awake.
If this happens multiple times in the night, then you may find yourself feeling exhausted the next day without even knowing why. This is because your body and mind were never able to reach the state of deep, prolonged sleep needed to restore your energy.
As a result, you go through your waking hours in a perpetual fog, never quite feeling like yourself. Left untreated, this condition can lead to serious health risks such as these:
- Chronic high blood pressure that puts you at risk for strokes and heart attacks.
- An impaired immune system that makes you more vulnerable to infectious diseases as well as cancer.
- Anxiety, depression or other negative mental states. We all feel a little downbeat or uptight every now and then, of course. But, if these problems persist for no obvious reason, then sleep apnea is a likely culprit.
- Impaired functioning when working, driving or performing other tasks. This can expose both you and those around you to catastrophic dangers.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
Many factors can lead to sleep apnea. However, these are the most common causes of the condition:
- Excess weight. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to have impaired air passages, putting them at special risk for sleep apnea.
- Cigarette smoke irritates the throat and lungs, which can cause them to constrict while the person is asleep.
- Lack of physical activity. Researchers have found a direct link between sedentary lifestyles and problems such as sleep apnea.
If you suspect that you’re suffering from apnea, then make an appointment with the dentist right away to schedule sleep testing in Lawton. During the test you’ll spend a comfortable evening sleeping in a home-like setting while trained specialists monitor your vital signs. The process is both gentle and highly valuable for your ongoing health.
There are a number of effective therapies for treating sleep apnea. One of the most common is the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device to prevent obstructions to your mouth, throat and windpipe. Other options include corrective surgery, mouth guards and trying new sleep positions or surfaces. Your dentist or other healthcare provider can give you more information.
Nowadays there’s no reason why all of us can’t enjoy a better night’s sleep. Talk to a medical professional today about getting a sleep apnea study. You’ll soon find yourself waking up with plenty of reasons to smile.
About the Author
Dr. David Drummond earned his DDS degree from Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago. He spent several years serving in the US Army Dental Corps before setting up practice here in Lawton. You can reach his office online or by calling (580) 227-8789.