Breathing Easier: The Connection Between Sleep and Airway Health

Breathing Easier: The Connection Between Sleep and Airway Health

By: Hillside Dental
Posted on: February 5, 2024

The world of sleep is vast and mysterious, a realm where our bodies rest, rejuvenate, and quietly take care of essential maintenance. One crucial aspect of sleep that often goes unnoticed is the role our airway plays in this nightly routine. By understanding the connection between sleep and airway health, we can take proactive steps towards maintaining a healthy airway, ensuring a good night's sleep, and ultimately, a healthier life.

 

How Sleep Apnea Affects Daily Life

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes and can occur as many as 30 times or more an hour. This constant interruption can seriously affect the quality of your sleep, making you feel tired and groggy during the day.
 

Sleep apnea doesn't just rob you of a good night's sleep. It can also severely impact your daily life. People with untreated sleep apnea often experience excessive daytime sleepiness, concentration problems, and mood changes, all of which can hinder performance at work or school.

 

The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Other Health Issues

The impacts of sleep apnea are not confined to daytime fatigue and concentration problems. There is a profound connection between sleep apnea and other serious health issues. For instance, sleep apnea is often associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
 

When your sleep is disrupted, your body's ability to regulate stress hormones is compromised, leading to increased blood pressure. Over time, this can strain your heart and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, sleep apnea can affect your body's ability to regulate glucose, leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

 

Understanding the Causes and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Understanding the causes and symptoms of sleep apnea is the first step towards diagnosis and treatment. Sleep apnea can be caused by various factors, including obesity, age, smoking, alcohol use, and having a naturally narrow airway or enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
 

The most common symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, episodes of breathing cessation during sleep, abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking, dry mouth or sore throat upon waking, morning headaches, difficulty staying asleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, attention problems, and irritability.
 

However, not everyone with sleep apnea snores, and not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Many people with sleep apnea might not even be aware they have it, as they may not fully wake up during the episodes. Therefore, if you suspect you have sleep apnea, it is essential to seek a professional diagnosis.

 

Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea

Once diagnosed with sleep apnea, it's crucial to start treatment as soon as possible to mitigate its adverse effects on your health and daily life. Treatment options for sleep apnea vary depending on its severity and the patient's overall health.
 

Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption, can significantly improve sleep apnea symptoms. In more severe cases, doctors might recommend Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, where a machine gently blows air into your throat through a mask, keeping the airway open.

 

The Benefits of Custom Designed Mouthpieces for Sleep Apnea

One treatment option that has proven effective, especially for mild to moderate sleep apnea, is the use of custom-designed mouthpieces. These devices, also known as oral appliance therapy, work by repositioning the jaw or tongue to keep the airway open during sleep.
 

Custom-designed mouthpieces have several benefits. Firstly, they are less invasive than surgery and more comfortable and portable than CPAP machines. Many patients find them easier to use and more convenient for travel. Secondly, because these mouthpieces are customized for each patient, they offer a more comfortable fit than over-the-counter options.
 

Additionally, studies have shown that oral appliance therapy can significantly improve sleep apnea symptoms, leading to better sleep quality, reduced daytime sleepiness, and improved concentration.

 

Breathing Easier and Sleeping Better

The connection between sleep and airway health is vital. Sleep apnea, a common but often undiagnosed sleep disorder, can severely impact a person's daily life and overall health. However, by understanding the causes and symptoms, seeking a professional diagnosis, and exploring treatment options like custom-designed mouthpieces, we can take steps towards breathing easier and sleeping better.
 

If you have sleep apnea, schedule an appointment to discuss the benefits of a mouthpiece with our professionals at Hillside Dental in our Las Vegas, Nevada, office. To book an appointment today, call (702) 666-8584 for new patients or (702) 895-7799 for existing patients.