Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects about 20 million people in the U.S. every night. Whenever most people hear about it, it’s usually associated with being extremely overweight, and more commonly affects males. However, sleep apnea can affect a wide array of people despite their size or gender. Today, Dr. Melody Stampe is going to share 6 reasons you might need to get sleep apnea therapy in Richardson.
1. Snoring
This is a symptom that you may not even be aware of, but if you share a bed with someone, it’s probably painfully apparent to them. Loud, chronic snoring is the most common sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by a complete blockage of the airway by the tissues in your mouth and throat while you sleep, and snoring indicates at least a partial blockage. While it does not always guarantee that you have sleep apnea, it does mean that you are not getting the most restful sleep that you can.
2. Breaks or Pauses in Breathing
If you frequently wake up out of breath or gasping, this is a clear sign that you have sleep apnea. This is a response from your body trying to force air into your blocked throat. Many people do not even realize they are waking up multiple times a night because they are still mostly asleep when it happens.
3. Constant Exhaustion
Of course, if you’re not getting enough sleep night after night, you are going to feel it throughout the day. Sleep apnea not only prevents you from resting, it is also very taxing on the body and can lead to consistently high blood pressure. If you’re getting 7-9 hours of sleep a night and still feel tired in the morning, this is a clear indication that something is wrong.
4. Frequent Headaches
When you stop breathing during the night, this causes the blood vessels in your head to expand so they can move more blood as it becomes oxygen deprived. This can lead to vascular headaches, and is another one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea.
5. High Blood Pressure
Like we mentioned in #3, sleep apnea can cause your blood pressure to rise and stay high because the body is trying to desperately move oxygen deprived blood. Unfortunately, it does not always go down once your breathing has been restored, which can expose you to issues commonly associated with high blood pressure such as heart attacks and strokes.
6. Your Mood is Constantly Changing
Sleep is just as important to your mental health as it is your physical health. If you find yourself constantly feeling irritable, short-tempered, or even depressed, this could be a sign that your sleep issues are stemming from a chronic problem.
What Should I Do?
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you should immediately take action. The first thing you should do is call us here at CityLine Dental Center. Dr. Stampe works with many qualified local sleep doctors, and can recommend you to one that can help you get a proper diagnosis. After that, Dr. Stampe will work with them to put together a treatment plan that will help alleviate your symptoms and let you rest.
Get Started Today!
Sleep apnea, after enough time, can cause a litany of serious health issues that can eventually become life threatening. Sleep is an integral part of taking care of yourself, and if you’ve had issues and are showing these symptoms of sleep apnea, please give us a call today and we can start you on the path to finally getting the sleep that you need.