Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea
Is your spouse’s snoring keeping you up all night long? While many people think snoring is just a harmless but annoying habit, it can actually be a sign of a dangerous condition called sleep apnea.
25 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which causes them to stop breathing for several seconds,
hundreds of times a night. It occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep and block the airway. It’s
more commonly diagnosed in men, but women are at risk too.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
• Snoring
• Snorting, choking, gasping during the night
• Daytime drowsiness
• Waking up breathless
• Difficulty sleeping/Insomnia
• Dry Mouth, Dry Throat upon waking
• Headache upon waking
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
For those who have heard of sleep apnea, and may have even been diagnosed, the most popular treatment method, using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, has given many an ‘I’ll just live with it’ attitude. Even with modern advances, many find the machine loud and uncomfortable and have trouble sleeping with it on.
Dr. Bird gives patients a different option with an oral appliance that has been proven effective at treating obstructive sleep apnea. It can also help with snoring even if it isn’t caused by sleep apnea. It’s worn like a sports mouth guard and helps keep your jaw in an optimal forward position to help the airway remain open during sleep.
To schedule an appointment or for more information on sleep apnea therapy call Windmill Dentistry today at (918) 910-5227.