The Causes and Warning Signs of a Sleep Disorder
Let’s talk about this serious sleep disorder. With sleep apnea, while you rest at night air passages become completely blocked by the collapse of soft tissues in the back of your mouth and in your throat. This blockage means you stop breathing until the brain wakes you, which can happen multiple times a night even if you don’t recall this occurring. These episodes leave you sleep deprived and exhausted. Over time, they can impact your ability to concentrate or even your memory. You could become sick more frequently as this strains the immune system. Over time, this could even stress the cardiovascular system so you are more prone to heart disease, high blood pressure, and even stroke or heart attack. Depression and obesity have also been linked to sleep apnea.
Which is why when you experience the warning signs of sleep apnea, you should contact our team right away. This could include chronic snoring, dry mouth, waking up gasping for air or struggling to breathe, daytime exhaustion, moodiness, and more. When one or more of these potential symptoms apply to you, let us know right away.
Potential Treatment Options
We start with a thorough and accurate diagnosis, which we accomplish with fiber-optic diagnostic cameras or possibly an overnight sleep study. We then provide treatment, which could be in the form of a CPAP machine to deliver a steady stream of oxygen throughout the night or an oral appliance to help you breathe without interruption. If you need surgery, we could conduct a uvulo-palato-pharyngo-plasty (UPPP) to reshape or remove the obstruction. We conduct this using advanced laser dentistry. A radio-frequency probe can be used to reduce vibrations in the soft palate, and we could also recommend orthognathic surgery to reposition the upper and lower jaw to keep airways open.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like sleep apnea, then contact our team today. We want to help you rest without complication, and feel more alert the next day!
Make an Appointment At Commonwealth Oral & Facial Surgery In Richmond, VA
Our team wants to offer unique surgical treatments to help you avoid complications! Talk to our team at Commonwealth Oral & Facial Surgery in Richmond, VA at (804) 354-1600 today. A good night’s rest is key to better quality of life, so reach out to our team today.