3 Types of Sleep Apnea You Should Know About
Mar 01, 2022
According to research, sleep disorders are a rising concern among millions. Generally, a sleep disorder is any condition that disrupts a person’s sleep, preventing them from getting regular, quality, and restorative sleep. If you’ve noticed a feeling of tiredness or headaches in the morning after waking up, chances are you have a sleep disorder. If so, it’s essential to seek help from a prosthodontist near you, as the condition can have adverse effects on your productivity and overall wellness.
Sleep apnea is a leading sleep disorder that affects both adults and children. Sleep apnea happens when breathing suddenly stops and then begins when sleeping. Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware of the condition. Commonly, sleep apnea is associated with loud snoring and teeth grinding. If your sleep partner has complained that you grind your teeth and snore at night, it’s a good idea to seek sleep apnea treatments near you.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Generally, sleep apnea is categorized based on what causes the condition. Knowing about sleep apnea can help you identify the cause, make the necessary improvements, and seek the proper treatment.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
OSA is the most common form of sleep apnea. It happens when there’s an airway obstruction in the throat and mouth. For instance, it can occur if your tongue falls against the soft palate when sleeping. It can cause the soft palate and uvula to fall against the throat, causing breathing difficulties. You’ll likely wake up gasping for air.
Since the airway blockage happens in the mouth, it has nothing to do with the lungs not working correctly. Research suggests that obstructive sleep apnea is more prevalent in males, pregnant women, and individuals with excess body weight.
Symptoms
- Frequent morning headaches
- Waking regularly during sleep
- Feeling tired in the morning after waking up
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Loud snoring
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
- Awaking with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Teeth grinding and clenching
Treatment
Since obstructive sleep apnea is due to airway blockage, treatment focuses on fixing the obstruction that causes the problem. Your dentist or doctor can suggest:
- Non-drug remedies. For mild cases of sleep apnea, you can treat the symptoms with treatments such as changing sleep positions, losing weight, quitting smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and doing breathing exercises.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This machine blows air continuously into the throat through a mask worn over the nose or both nose and mouth. It keeps your airway open and ensures normal breathing.
- Your dentist can offer orthodontics to treat sleep apnea caused by misaligned teeth. Mouthguards are also effective in reducing the effects of teeth grinding. Tongue-retaining devices help keep the tongue forward and prevent airway blockage.
- Surgery. If structural issues in the airway cause the condition, the dentist can perform surgery to reshape the airway.
- Medications. Your doctor can also prescribe medication to help with daytime sleepiness and other symptoms.
- Central Sleep Apnea
Unlike with OSA, central sleep apnea is neurological. It happens when the nervous system and brain don’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing, causing breathing to stop. Since the body doesn’t try to breathe, there’s snoring. It’s commonly associated with congestive heart failure, sedation drugs, and sleeping at high altitudes.
Symptoms
Some patients experience symptoms while others do not. Common signs include:
- Insomnia
- Trouble concentrating during the day
- Waking up panicking or gasping for air
- Daytime sleepiness
Treatment
Central sleep apnea is severe, and the dentist or doctor will address the underlying causes. Your dentist can also suggest the following machines to help with breathing.
- CPAP machines
- Bilevel positive airway pressure machine
- Adaptive servo-ventilation machine
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome
This condition means that a patient has both central and obstructive sleep apnea. If a patient’s condition doesn’t resolve with CPAP machines and other OSA treatments, it becomes apparent.
Symptoms
- Daytime fatigue
- Sudden waking from sleep
- Dry mouth and sore throat in the morning
- Poor quality sleep or insomnia
- Confusion on getting up
Treatment
Treating complex sleep apnea involves a combination of treatments. It can entail treating the underlying condition and using breathing machines such as CPAP.
When to See a Doctor
If you suspect you might have sleep apnea in Calgary, you must find the proper treatment immediately. Untreated sleep apnea has been linked to inflammation in the body, worsening or increasing the risk of developing high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. For more information about sleep apnea treatments in Calgary, contact Northwest Prosthodontics.