Your loud snoring disturbs your spouse and kids. Did you know it could ruin your health as well? 76132 general dentist, Dr. Renee Corbitt, is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. She has the training to help identify and treat harmful sleep apnea so patients rest and overall health improves.
What is sleep apnea?
A true sleep disorder, Fort Worth sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring, fitful sleep, sudden waking and gasping for breath. Sufferers awaken several times per night due to the oxygen deprivation in their systems.
Twenty percent of American adults suffer from sleep apnea, and about 90 percent of these people have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA. This type of sleep apnea occurs when the soft palate and uvula collapse over the throat, blocking the passage of air. Without proper oxygen, the person wakes up to take a breath. Episodes of apnea may last 10 to 20 seconds or more.
Other kinds of sleep apnea are Central Sleep Apnea, or CSA, where the brain fails to signal the lungs to take a breath. Mixed Sleep Apnea combines OSA and CSA.
Your Fort Worth dentist screens her dental patients with a simple sleep questionnaire. If the signs of sleep apnea seem obvious, Dr. Corbitt may refer the individual to his or her primary care physician and/or a sleep specialist so the problem is evaluated and diagnosed.
Why is Fort Worth sleep apnea harmful?
Besides contributing to interpersonal problems, sleep apnea is linked to serious systemic health issues such as:
- Insulin resistance and diabetes
- Hypertension
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Obesity
- Memory problems
- Daytime sleepiness
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Metabolic Syndrome
While people of all ages, ethnicities and walks of life suffer from sleep apnea, your 76132 general dentist says that males over 40 seem most disposed to have it. Additional risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Abusing alcohol
- Obesity
- Large neck circumference
- Menopause
Treatment of sleep apnea
Sleep physicians often recommend a device called a CPAP machine. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Wearing a facial mask at night, the sleep apnea patient receives a steady flow of air from the CPAP machine. This airflow literally forces the throat open.
Some individuals adjust well to CPAP. Others find the machines noisy and the mask claustrophobic.
A possible alternative is a custom-made oral appliance, or snore guard, from your 76132 general dentist. These comfortable acrylic appliances place the lower jaw in a more forward position. This opens the airway so breathing is steady, eliminating apnea.
Are you snoring?
During a personal consultation, Dr. Renee Corbitt will be happy to evaluate you and if necessary, refer you to a sleep specialist for further testing. Contact Renee Corbitt DDS today for an appointment. Don’t ignore snoring!