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Sleep Apnea Treatment in Green Hills

Are You Constantly Fatigued?

woman sleeping in all white bed Do you go to bed at a reasonable hour, sleep through the night, but still wake up exhausted? This can be extremely frustrating, and make life very difficult. Sleep is an essential part of your mental and physical health, and anything that affects it can have serious consequences. What could be causing your sleep problems? It may be sleep apnea, a condition suffered by nearly 20 million Americans each night. What is it, what causes it, and how can you get sleep apnea therapy in Green Hills? You can get all of these questions answered right here.


What Is Sleep Apnea?

Women holding ears to block noise

Sleep apnea occurs when a person’s breathing becomes completely blocked during the night. This can happen many times over the course of the evening, and does not always wake a person up. This obstruction can be caused in two ways. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. It occurs when the soft tissue in a patient’s mouth and throat relaxes so much during sleep that it cuts off their air.

The other is central sleep apnea, or CSA. This is neurologically based, meaning that a person’s breathing is cut off because their brain stops sending the correct signals to the body.

People can suffer from one kind of sleep apnea, or a combination of both. Some common symptoms are:

  • Constant fatigue
  • Morning headaches
  • Waking up suddenly gasping, or out of breath
  • Loud snoring
  • Insomnia
  • Chest pain at night
  • Depression
  • High blood pressure

The continual loss of oxygen is very stressful on the body, and over time, these symptoms can lead to serious consequences, as people with sleep apnea have a significantly higher risk of suffering heart attacks and strokes


What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Women with head on pillow

Sleep apnea can affect many different kinds of people, independent of age. Certain risk factors are common, however:

  • Excess weight
  • Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
  • Being male
  • Being older
  • Family history
  • Use of alcohol or medication
  • Smoking
  • Nasal congestion

What Can You Do About It?

Women sleeping peacefully

The first step to addressing sleep apnea is to get it properly diagnosed. As many as 80% of people with sleep apnea have no clue that they have it. You can start the process by taking our quiz and filling out our sleepiness questionnaire. This will give Dr. Kirby enough information to know if you should complete a sleep study. He can refer you to a local, trusted sleep doctor in the area who can diagnose your sleep apnea. Afterward, Dr. Kirby can effectively treat it, as he has been specially trained in sleep apnea orthotics, which is a non-invasive, non-surgical method that can dramatically increase the quality of your sleep and improve your overall health.

You don’t have to suffer through constant exhaustion and risk your health because you can’t sleep. Dr. Kirby can help you get the rest you need, so please don’t hesitate to call him today.


Sleep Apnea (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) FAQs

Why Should I See a Dentist for Sleep Apnea Treatment?

If you’re under the impression that dentists only study the teeth, you might wonder why you’d ever talk to them about sleep apnea. However, the truth is that dentists have a deep understanding of the entire upper respiratory system, which means that it’s common for them to also study sleep apnea. Dentists are also capable of producing oral appliances that can be an alternative to CPAP machines, which makes it worthwhile to talk to them about the condition.

Does Everyone Who Snores Have Sleep Apnea?

Most people associate snoring with sleep apnea, but this isn’t necessarily a hard-and-fast rule. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and not every who has sleep apnea snores. If you suffer from chronic fatigue or actually notice yourself waking up in the middle of the night, it may still be worth getting screened for the condition regardless of whether or not you snore.

Will Oral Appliance Therapy Make CPAP Therapy Unnecessary?

CPAP machines work by forcing pressurized air into the airways using a specialized mask. This is nearly 100% effective at treating sleep apnea, which is why it’s the first thing most patients are prescribed. However, CPAP machines also aren’t necessarily popular among patients, with only about 50% of those who are prescribed them using them consistently.

Oral appliances work better for some patients than others, but if it happens to help you it can be a much more comfortable alternative to a bulky CPAP machine.

How Soon After Starting Sleep Apnea Treatment Will I Notice Improvement?

Whether you’re using a CPAP machine or an oral appliance, it’ll take a little while to get used to sleeping while wearing them. This process should be much faster with an oral appliance given how much more comfortable it tends to be.

You should start to notice an improvement in your sleep after a few days to a week.