If you haven't been sleeping well, you have plenty of company. With the COVID-19 pandemic upending our lives in so many ways, stress is at an all time high. Patients are reporting higher levels of anxiety, and more difficulty sleeping, then ever before.
Yet some sleep problems are medical in nature and, properly diagnosed, can respond well to therapy.
Sleep Apnea
People suffering from sleep apnea have short pauses in breathing while they are asleep. These pauses may happen many times during the night, and patients are often completely unaware this is happening. If not treated, sleep apnea can lead to numerous problems, such as headaches, high blood pressure, stroke, and memory loss. Feeling sleepy during the day and being told you are snoring loudly at night could also be signs that you have sleep apnea.
Yes, you can have sleep apnea and not even know it.
If you think you might have sleep apnea, your physician or dentist can prescribe a sleep test (often done at home) which can pinpoint the severity and the cause of the problem. Treatment using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device helps many people with sleep apnea.
For those uncomfortable using a CPAP device or unable to sleep with it, there are several types of oral appliances that can significantly reduce episodes of snoring and apnea.
Ask us what we can do for you.
If you suspect you might be suffering from sleep apnea, or if you have a CPAP device that you are uncomfortable using, ask us about some of the options we can offer you.
