What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a type of disordered breathing that causes someone to stop breathing throughout the night. It’s possible to stop breathing hundreds of times throughout the night without evening knowing about it. It happens when the soft tissues in the back of the mouth collapse during sleep and obstruct the airway.

Once the airway becomes obstructed, the brain stops receiving oxygen which then sends signals to cough or choke to start breathing again. This moment is known as apnea. Although most people don’t remember waking up, sleep apnea prevents the body from having undisrupted rest which can cause people to wake up in the morning feeling as though they haven’t slept at all. Sleep apnea can have serious consequences on one’s health if it goes untreated.

Symptoms

Although snoring is the leading symptoms, it’s not the only one to look out for. These symptoms also include the following:

  • Loud snoring
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Morning headaches
  • Waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth
  • Waking up choking, coughing, or gasping at night
  • Daytime concentration difficulty
  • Nighttime sweating
  • Mood changes
  • Decreased libido
  • High blood pressure

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to get diagnosed by a professional. The sooner you receive a diagnosis, the sooner you can begin sleep apnea treatment and begin to feel better.

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

Receiving an apnea diagnosis is the first step to getting treatment. Dr. Escoto and Dr. Mantovani cannot diagnose you but they can refer you to a sleep doctor who can. There are many online doctors who can send you a home test to take. Patients usually sleep with the machine on for two nights and then send their test in. In just a few weeks you can have a diagnosis and your doctor can work hand in hand with Dr. Ecoto and Dr. Mantovani for your treatment.

It’s also possible that you just snore at night and don’t have sleep apnea. In this case, you’re still not resting properly at night so we still recommend visiting us for snoring treatment.

Dangers if Untreated

Without treatment, sleep apnea can cause a lot of different health problems. Those who leave it untreated may experience one or more of the following complications.

  • Stroke
  • Hypertension
  • Heart attack
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Type II diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Heart failure
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • GERD
  • Depression
  • Injury/death from accidents caused by sleepiness

Reduce your risk of these complications by seeking sleep apnea treatment.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment in Miami Beach

At SoBe Dentist we can help patients who both snore or suffer from sleep apnea. Our treatments work for both types of patients. Before you avoid a visit with us because you think we’ll prescribe CPAP, that’s not the case. Instead, we offer oral appliance therapy. Oral appliance therapy involves wearing a mouthguard-like appliance. The appliance pushes the lower jaw forward to prevent the soft tissue in the mouth from collapsing into your airway. Oral appliance therapy is effective for patients who snore and suffer from sleep apnea. It’s much more convenient and comfortable to use than CPAP and many patients find great success using them.

If you would like to stop snoring and find a comfortable and effective treatment, contact SoBe Dentist to schedule a consultation. Please call (305) 535-2225 to book an appointment with Dr. Escoto or Dr. Mantovani to discover the best sleep apnea treatment for you.