Not getting enough sleep is a problem that millions of Americans deal with on a regular basis. Poor sleep may result in one or more of the following issues:
- Daytime sleepiness
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Lack of concentration
- Memory problems
- Serious medical problems including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common of the three types of sleep apnea, and if you’re sleeping poorly several nights a week, there’s a good chance you have this complex sleep disorder.
The good news is that a Miami Beach, Florida, sleep apnea dentist can offer a number of treatment options to end your bad sleep cycles and restore a more regular, restful sleep cycle. If you’re tired of waking up feeling tired, struggling the next day at work, and never sleeping through the night, it may be time to have a sleep study conducted to get an official diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea so that treatment may begin.
What is Sleep Apnea?
The simplest way to describe sleep apnea is that it occurs when the tissue in your airway relaxes in such a way that it collapses and blocks air from getting through the airway effortlessly. When the tissue collapses and your airway is blocked, you will choke and gasp for air to breathe. People with Obstructive Sleep Apnea may choke and gasp for air from breathing stoppages that last ten seconds several hundred times a night.
Just think about what that does to your body in an eight-hour sleep cycle. Your body and mind are deprived of a restful night of sleep, so there’s no rejuvenation taking place. You will feel poorly the next day and will experience one or more of the symptoms listed above. You may never feel rested if you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, but don’t despair because a sleep apnea dentist in Miami Beach, Florida, can help.
After the Sleep Study
Your sleep apnea dentist will explain what a sleep study entails, and once that’s done at home or in a medical facility, your dentist will have the information needed to properly treat your sleep apnea. There are a number of sleep apnea treatment options available today; although CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) has long been the go-to method for treating sleep apnea, there are a number of other treatment modalities available now.
How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Health
In addition to feeling tired, fatigued, and sleepy the next day, there are a number of other ways that Obstructive Sleep Apnea damages the human body. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) negatively affects:
- Respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems
- Ability to sleep
- Ability to function during the day
- Interpersonal relationships
- Work performance
- The sleep of family members
- Your ability to drive
- Your mood
- Your concentration
Here are some specific negative effects of sleep apnea on the body and mind:
- Memory loss: Sleep helps people with short-term and long-term memory; repeated poor sleep could lead to problems with both.
- Depression: People with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer depression than people without OSA.
- Mental confusion: Brain fog is a common occurrence the day after a bad night’s sleep.
- Compromised immune system: A weakened immune system will make you vulnerable to illness.
- Hypertension: Many people with OSA have high blood pressure.
- Cardiovascular problems: Obstructive sleep apnea increases the likelihood of irregular heart rhythms, stroke, and cardiac failure.
- Decreased libido: Many people with sleep apnea experience erectile dysfunction (ED) and other libido-related issues.
- Diabetes: Those with sleep apnea are more likely to be diagnosed with Type II Diabetes; people with Type II Diabetes are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea may make it difficult to manage your diabetes.
- Respiratory issues: Breathing problems at night may lead to problems with your lungs and the entire respiratory system.
Learn More About OSA from a Miami Beach, Florida, Sleep Apnea Dentist
If you are looking for a Miami Beach, Florida, sleep apnea dentist, look no further than SoBe Dentist™. Please call our office at (305) 535-2225, or fill out our online contact form. One of our sleep apnea dental team members will be in touch to schedule a new patient consultation or answer any questions you may have.
