What are the Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea?

You need to pay attention to the warning signs of sleep apnea, as this is a breathing disorder that causes you to repeatedly stop breathing while you sleep. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that, according to the Mayo Clinic, can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, and more.

Warning Signs

The most common warning signs of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring
• Gasping for air during sleep
• Restless sleep
• Dry mouth in the morning
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Chronic fatigue
• Daytime sleepiness
• Irritability
• Inability to focus on work tasks
• Difficulty paying attention
• Impaired judgement

The reason why people with sleep apnea stop breathing is because the muscles in the back of their throat relax so much that their airway severely narrows or even closes. This prevents them from getting air into their lungs, which then lowers the oxygen levels in their blood.

Your brain senses the lower oxygen levels and wakes you up so you can open your airway and get more oxygen.

The problem is that these constant sleep disturbances to keep your airway open can prevent you from getting the sleep you need each night for your body to remain healthy and functioning properly.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea can be Treated

If you or your partner are experiencing any of these symptoms or seeing any of the warning signs of sleep apnea, you should speak to your doctor or dentist right away. Often, the condition can be treated with devices designed to keep your airway open while you sleep.

Dr. Lovik Mirzaeian has helped many patients just like you get a good night’s sleep again. We offer treatments to help open airways through the use of custom-made oral appliances. These devices can assist you in sleep and allow you to get the rest that your body needs.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you, too!