Albertville, AL
No matter whether you have been officially diagnosed with sleep apnea or you just think you may have it, you undoubtedly want to know what triggers this condition. That’s a question with a complex solution. There are several subtypes of sleep apnea, each with its unique root causes. As a result, getting a professional assessment and diagnosis is the only method to determine the cause and provide effective treatment solutions. Therefore, our Albertville dentists who treat sleep apnea at Wall Street Dentistry share on the blog today the seven main causes of sleep apnea and what you can do to lower your risks and find treatment.
What is Sleep Apnea?
To put it simply, sleep apnea is a disorder in which one repeatedly stops breathing while sleeping. Our dentists in Albertville that treat sleep apnea explain that these breathing pauses disrupt the deep, restorative sleep people need to perform at their best. But the disruptions seldom arouse the sleeper sufficiently for them to be aware of it, resulting in excessive daytime fatigue without knowing why. Because of this, most persons with sleep apnea are unaware they have the condition.
Sleep Apnea Types
Sleep apnea may present itself in three distinct ways. Finding out which of these conditions you suffer from is essential to determining your sleep problem source.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is the sleep apnea type that affects the most people. It develops when the internal throat muscles become too relaxed and block the airway.
- Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea develops when the brain fails to properly activate the muscles that regulate breathing.
- Complex Sleep Apnea
Complex sleep apnea is a mix of the two most common types of sleep apnea, obstructive and central. This condition is often referred to as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.
What causes sleep apnea?
During sleep, the throat muscles relax and partially or close up the airway, causing the condition known as obstructive sleep apnea. The sudden reduction in blood oxygen levels awakens you from a deep slumber so that you may resume regular breathing. Sleep apnea sufferers often snore loudly, with snorts, choking sounds, or gasps occurring during breathing pauses. Others may see this happening, but you won’t remember it at all, even if you wake up hundreds of times per night. Our Albertville sleep apnea dentists share below the most typical contributors to sleep apnea development risks.
- Age
Although sleep apnea is most common in older adults, teens and children can also develop the condition.
- Obesity
Being overweight is a common cause of sleep apnea, and reducing your weight is one of the most effective treatments. Obstructions to breathing may be caused by fatty deposits in the upper airway.
- Family History
Sleep apnea may be hereditary.
- Narrow Airway
In addition to hereditary factors, swollen tonsils or adenoids, problems with the jaw, and improper dental alignment may all contribute to an airway that is too small for comfortable breathing.
- Nasal Congestion
Those who have problems breathing through their noses are more prone to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea because they breathe through their mouths instead.
- Underdeveloped Jaw
Myofunctional therapy addresses muscle usage of the mouth, tongue, and jaw. That’s why early exams are essential for children as they grow, to help reduce the risk of orofacial myofunctional disorders that cause narrow arches, airways, and eventual sleep apnea.
- Alcohol, Drug Use, Smoking
Alcohol and some substances (both legal and illicit) may cause airway blockage by relaxing the airway’s muscles. Additionally, when a person smokes, the airway becomes more inflamed and retains more moisture.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Albertville, Alabama
It is crucial to treat sleep apnea since it may have a significant influence on your entire quality of life. Our sleep apnea dentists in Albertville offer strategies for treating obstructive sleep apnea as a customized experience based on your unique oral conditions. We focus on getting to the bottom of your sleep apnea symptoms so that we can provide you with treatment that works. If you think you have obstructive sleep apnea or have already received an official diagnosis, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Wall Street Dentistry to see how we can help you restore your sleep so that you can wake each day ready to tackle anything in your way. Please call our office at (256) 878-0525 or contact us online to request an appointment.