Sleep Apnea – Winthrop, MA
Quality & Comfortable Sleep Apnea Treatment
At Brooks Dental, we are committed to providing our patients with quality care that improves their everyday lives, which is why we offer sleep apnea therapy. If you’ve been snoring loudly, tired during the day, and restless at night, there’s a good chance that you’re affected by sleep apnea. This disorder can not only impact your daily productivity, but it also increases your risk of additional health issues. Keep reading to learn more about sleep apnea therapy in Winthrop and what our team can do to give you a great night’s sleep. Contact our office today so you and your sleeping partner can feel rested and ready for the day.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
There are multiple types of this disorder, but the most common form is called obstructive sleep apnea. This occurs when the muscles in your throat or the back of your mouth relax and collapse, causing a blockage in your airway. This leads to loud snoring, but more importantly, it can cause those affected to start and stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. Unfortunately, many who are affected don’t know they have it, simply waking up each morning feeling unrested.
Take Our Sleep Apnea Assessment QuizDangers of Sleep Apnea
Unfortunately, many people who have sleep apnea do not realize just how serious this condition can be. It does more than just deprive your body of necessary rest every night; it can have real consequences on your well-being. For instance, those who get bad sleep can struggle with focus, memory, depression, and reaction time. In fact, research shows that drowsy drivers may be just as dangerous as drunk drivers.
In addition, untreated sleep apnea can be detrimental to your health. Multiple studies have found that those with this condition are at an increased risk of developing heart disease and experiencing a cardiovascular event like a heart attack. Pregnant women with untreated sleep apnea are much more likely to have a pre-term birth because of the increase in blood pressure.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Many times, those affected by sleep apnea can’t recognize the symptoms because they occur at night. In fact, it is estimated that around 80% of sleep apnea cases are untreated. However, you should call our office if you or your partner notice any of these common warning signs:
- Daytime sleepiness
- Loud, chronic snoring
- Waking up with a dry or sore throat
- Morning time headaches
- Waking up gasping for air or feeling out of breath
- Mood changes or irritability
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
If you think you could be suffering from sleep apnea, you’ll need to undergo a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis. At Brooks Dental, we are proud to help our patients on the path toward healthier sleep.
Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea
While anyone can be affected by sleep apnea at any age, here are some factors that can increase your risk of this disorder:
- Excess weight
- Wide neck circumference
- Being male
- Narrowed airway
- Family history
- Being older
- Use of alcohol or other drugs
- Smoking
- Nasal congestion
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
Traditionally, sleep apnea has been treated using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which works by pushing air through the patient’s airway using a nasal mask. Unfortunately, these devices are not only a hassle to move around, but they make noise and can be uncomfortable to wear for some. That’s why we offer treatment with custom-made oral appliances. These personalized devices are worn only at night and shift your jaw into a position that keeps your airway open and unblocked during sleep. This option is not only smaller and easier to use, but it’s also convenient to travel with as well as effective.