Do you toss and turn at night? Do you wake up feeling tired and drowsy? You may have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is a common issue that causes interrupted breathing that leads to difficulty resting. Thankfully, we offer effective treatment options and we’ve included some important information on the different types of sleep apnea in Mangum. Read on to learn more about OSA and what we can do to help you count sheep with ease!
Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Mangum, OK
Achieve a Better Night’s Sleep
The Difference Between OSA and CSA
Obstructive and central sleep apnea both affect your ability to sleep by making it difficult to breathe. However, there is one key difference: OSA occurs when the throat muscles or tongue relax to the point that your airway is blocked, causing interrupted breathing. On the other hand, there is interrupted breathing when CSA occurs, but this is due to your brain function. The brain isn’t sending proper signals to your muscles to breathe, so you don’t even try.
What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a partial or full blockage of the airway. This typically occurs when the tongue and/or throat muscles fall into the airway, making it difficult to breathe. However, there are also some risk factors that can significantly increase your chances of being affected by OSA, including:
- Being male
- Having a thick neck circumference
- Being overweight
- Having family history of OSA
- Being older
- Having a narrow airway
- Smoking
- Heavy consumption of alcohol
Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
While symptoms are often difficult to notice because they occur at night, you and your sleep partner can be on the lookout for these common warning signs:
- Loud snoring
- Waking up gasping for breath
- Morning headaches
- Daytime drowsiness
- Irritability
- Waking up with a dry or sore throat
- High blood pressure
- Nighttime sweating
When is Treatment for OSA Necessary?
If you’re experiencing 1 or more of the warning signs listed above, it’s time to get treatment. Lack of sleep will not only make you feel drowsy, but it can seriously impact your quality of life. In fact, untreated OSA can lead to car accidents that not only put your life at risk, but also the others around you. That’s why we offer an effective treatment option at EZ Sleep Solutions, a custom-made oral appliance. This is a comfortable, easy to use mouthpiece that shifts the jaw and/or tongue into a position that clears your airway. The result is unblocked breathing for better sleeping.
If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact our office today!