Sleep apnea is an all-too-common condition that causes a person to stop breathing intermittently while sleeping. Sleep apnea affects approximately 18 million adults, and it doesn’t discriminate: The condition can be found across all demographics.
Our team at Houston Precise Dental Care, led by Dr. Joe Eckford Jr., offers sleep apnea treatments that can help you get a good night’s sleep.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea, also called obstructive sleep apnea, develops when your throat muscles are unable to keep your airways open. This decreases your ability to breathe, or stops it entirely. This occurs in increments of ten seconds or more, and it interrupts your sleep, awakening you just enough so you can start breathing again.
Fatigue and depression can result from living with this condition. More serious complications include an increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and cardiac issues.
Who has sleep apnea?
Though sleep apnea crosses seemingly all demographics, certain groups of people and lifestyles can raise your risk of developing this condition. One of the early warning signs of sleep apnea is snoring.
Overweight men over age 40 are at the greatest risk of developing sleep apnea, but family history can also raise your chances. Stress, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption also heighten your risk of developing sleep apnea.
Why should I treat my sleep apnea?
While the decision to seek assistance with your sleep apnea is a deeply personal one, we encourage you to consider treatment. Treating your sleep apnea not only improves your well-deserved sleep, giving your body an uninterrupted oxygen flow; it also saves you from a long list of other health conditions, including those we mentioned above.
You’ll be able to save on your health care costs, have more energy during the day, and improve your mental health.
How do I treat sleep apnea?
There are many available treatments for sleep apnea, and it may be necessary to combine different therapies. The first area that Dr. Eckford explores in treating your sleep apnea is your lifestyle. If you’re living with obesity, we encourage you to lose weight. In most cases, this can cure your sleep apnea.
Stress management is an integral part of managing and overcoming sleep apnea, as well. If you need immediate relief, try sleeping on your side.
Consistent, restful sleep is extremely important to your health, and Dr. Eckford is pleased to offer solutions that can give you the relief you need. Among these options is a mandibular advancement device. This helps keep your throat open while you sleep.
During your appointment with Dr. Eckford, he discusses all of your treatment options, and he is happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Living with sleep apnea isn’t just an inconvenience. The serious side effects can affect you later in life, and our team wants you to feel healthy and strong. Your first step toward more restful sleep comes when you reach out to us to arrange a consultation.
Request an appointment using our online scheduling tool, or give us a call at (713) 433-6431. You can also send Dr. Eckford and the team a message here on our website.