When you wake up in the night on a regular basis gasping for air, or if you snore frequently, then you could be experiencing the warning signs of sleep apnea. Without treatment, this disorder leaves you exhausted, and your immune system and cardiovascular system could be strained as well. Fortunately, your Commonwealth Oral & Facial Surgery team can treat the disorder and help you sleep with ease!
The Causes and Dangers of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that occurs when you stop breathing in the night. Your cessation of breathing happens when soft tissues in the throat and the back of the mouth become too relaxed and collapse, curing off airflow until the brain registers the oxygen drop and wakes you. While you may not remember this happening, it could interrupt your sleep cycle hundreds of times in a single night. You become sleep deprived even if you assume you rested well, and this impacts your ability to focus and interact with others. Over time, this could also strain your immune system and place serious pressure on your cardiovascular system too!
The Warning Signs of Your Disorder
You may suffer from chronic snoring, or episodes of gasping for air or choking in the night. Dry mouth in the morning, headaches and irritability in the daytime, and exhaustion through the day are also common symptoms. If one or more of these applies to your experience, then you should see us right away for a diagnosis. Our team will conduct a detailed examination of your mouth, nose, throat, and head to assess the position and severity of your airway obstruction. We also employ fiber-optic digital cameras and may prescribe an overnight sleep study. Using these diagnostic methods, we can choose the best solution for your sleep issues!
Possible Treatment Options
A CPAP machine could be used to help provide you with a steady stream of oxygen throughout the night, so you don’t stop breathing. We could also use UPPP surgery to remove obstruction, performing this with a laser for comfort and precision. Radio-frequency probes can be used to tighten soft tissues and prevent vibrations and obstruction, and we can also provide orthognathic surgery for very complex cases. Whether your sleep apnea is minor or severe, we can help you obtain a good night’s rest again!
If you have any questions about how we tackle issues like sleep apnea, or if you’re ready for a diagnosis or sleep study, then contact our team today to learn more.
Commonwealth Oral & Facial Surgery Provides a Good Night’s Rest Again
Our team wants to make sure you can sleep easily without interruptions to your sleep cycle. If you would like to learn more about treating sleep disorders, call Commonwealth OFS today at (804) 354-1600.