If you’ve recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, the thought of wearing a CPAP while sleeping can be frightening. Halloween is scary enough without worrying about a CPAP, but there’s nothing to fear. Sleep apnea is easy to treat with either a CPAP or an oral appliance. However, if you ignore your sleep specialist’s recommendations, there are plenty of reasons to worry. Sleep apnea can have potentially life-threatening complications. Here’s why you don’t want to delay sleep apnea treatment.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most prevalent type of the breathing disorder. The soft tissues in the back of your mouth and tongue relax while sleeping. They can collapse to block your airway, causing you to stop breathing frequently. Not only can this affect your sleep quality, but it can also put you at risk of many serious health conditions.
Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is attributed to loud snoring, but sawing wood isn’t the only concern. Every time you stop breathing, it jolts your brain awake to resume inhaling. You may not be aware of these brief awakenings, but they interrupt your sleep cycle. You can struggle with daytime fatigue, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating.
Over time, sleep deprivation can occur, which can cause your cognitive abilities to decline. You can be at significant risk of workplace and auto accidents. It’s not uncommon to experience memory loss, depression, and poor mental health overall.
Sleep apnea also depletes your body of oxygen. The frequent drops in oxygen strain every system in your body. Untreated sleep apnea is associated with heart disease, diabetic complications, obesity, and many other concerning health conditions that can shorten your lifespan.
Options to Treat Sleep Apnea
You have multiple options to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Your sleep specialist will explain which solution might be right for you, including:
- CPAP: A CPAP machine delivers a steady stream of air pressure through a mask worn over the mouth or nose. It helps you maintain oxygen levels to breathe easier.
- Oral Appliance: An oral appliance is a great alternative to a CPAP for patients with mild-to-moderate OSA. The custom-fit device positions your tongue and jaw to prevent an obstruction in your airway. It can be used alone or along with a CPAP. It is also an effective solution to treat snoring.
Invest in Better Health
Sleep apnea therapy will help you achieve better health and wellness to live a long life. You’ll wake up feeling well-rested and alert to feel your best.
About Dr. Michael D. Oslund
Dr. Oslund earned his dental degree at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and has regularly continued his education in various specialties, including orthodontics, dental implants, and sleep apnea. He has the most up-to-date solutions to treat breathing-related sleep disorders. Request an appointment through his website or call (407) 809-8815.
