Sleep Apnea Treatment in Garland, TX

You Deserve a Full Night’s Sleep!

Do you consistently wake up feeling groggy, irritable, or exhausted – even when you have had a full 8 hours of sleep? You may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. To treat it, we offer simple, non-invasive sleep apnea treatment using custom-created mouthguards.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

When you are asleep, your whole body goes into a deep state of relaxation. However, if you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) your throat, soft palate, and/or tongue relax too much. They will start to sag, blocking the path of air through your windpipe. As a result, you will wake up each time this happens. Although you will sometimes jolt awake with a sharp gasp, more often, you will not even know that you have moved into a lighter sleep cycle. What you will be aware of is how exhausted you feel in the morning.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Because you may not be aware of the disruptions to your sleep, it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose sleep apnea. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should schedule a sleep apnea evaluation with Dr. Dooley as soon as possible:

• Loud snoring
• Chronic exhaustion or daytime fatigue
• Frequent headaches, particularly in the morning
• Irritability or mood swings
• Forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating
• Sore throat or dry mouth when you wake up in the morning

Causes of Sleep Apnea

• Neck circumference. A thicker neck can lead to narrower airways, which can cause sleep apnea. This is the only way to prevent sleep apnea.
• Obesity. Both men and women are at greater risk for sleep apnea when they are overweight. Obstructive fat deposits in your upper airway can cause problems with your breathing and lead to sleep apnea.
• A narrowed throat. It is not your fault. This is simply how your body evolved genetically. A narrow airway may be a contributing factor to sleep apnea. Children are more likely to have a blocked airway due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
• Being male. Sorry guys! Sleep apnea is more common in men than it is in women, and can be as severe as 2 to 3 times more common in men. Women are more likely to have sleep apnea when they are overweight and after menopause. Your age could also play a role.
• Being older. We found that patients over 50 are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea at Copperas Cove. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the loss of muscle retention as you age.
• Alcohol and sedatives. Your sleep apnea can be aggravated by substances that relax your body. Sleep apnea is when your breathing becomes restricted by the muscles at the back of the throat. These substances can relax your throat muscles, which can lead to obstructive sleeping apnea.
• Smoking. You’re right if you are wondering if smoking causes sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is two to three times more common in smokers than it is for non-smokers. Smoking increases inflammation and fluid retention in your upper airway which can lead to sleep apnea.
• Nasal congestion. You are more likely to have obstructive sleeping apnea if you have trouble breathing through your nose. Excessive mouth breathing is caused by air not passing through the nasal passages.
• Conditions that could cause sleep apnea. Congestive heart disease, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease are all possible causes. Sleep apnea can also be caused by hormonal disorders, chronic lung diseases like asthma, or a stroke.

Risks of Not Treating Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea treatment will not only alleviate the symptoms mentioned above. It can also have untold benefits on your overall physical health. OSA has been linked to serious health concerns, including:

• High blood pressure. Sleep apnea can worsen high blood pressure. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to wake up several times per night due to a lack of oxygen. This creates stress at a time when you should be relaxing. This can cause your blood pressure to rise by triggering your body’s hormone system. This can lead to oxygen levels in your blood dropping when you are unable to breathe naturally.
• An increased risk for heart attack or stroke. Obstructive sleep apnea can make it more likely that you will have a heart attack. Low oxygen circulation can cause this. This condition can also cause strokes and atrial fibrillation, which is a rapid, fluttering pulse. Obstructive sleep disorder apnea can cause your body to take in oxygen in a way that makes it difficult for your brain to control blood flow in your arteries.
• Diabetes/Weight gain. This is a Catch 22 situation. Extra pounds can increase your chances of developing sleep apnea, and this condition also makes it more difficult to lose weight.
• An increased risk for car accidents. When you are not well-rested, the risk for accidents to occur increases significantly as your body is less alert.

In addition, sleep apnea impacts both your professional and personal life. Chronic exhaustion and irritability can take a huge toll on your work performance and relationships with others.

Our Effective Treatment

In most cases, we can provide sleep apnea treatment without CPAP machines using small, individually fabricated mouthguards. Some devices work much like oral splints used to treat TMJ Disorder. They will realign your jaw to tighten your soft tissues so that they do not slacken and block airflow. Other devices will actually reposition your tongue to keep your airways clear. If you are like most patients, you will quickly adjust to your device, and you will soon be enjoying the full night’s sleep that you need.

Ask Dr. Dooley About Sleep Apnea Treatment

To alleviate chronic snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, find out if Dr. Dooley can help you with a custom-designed oral appliance. Schedule an appointment by calling Scott Dooley Dentistry in Garland, TX, today at 972-495-8100. We also proudly serve the residents of Dallas, Richardson, Wylie, Sachse, and all surrounding communities.