Why is Sleep Important?
Healthy sleep is crucial for overall health. We all require long periods of sleep to rejuvenate, grow muscle, balance hormones and repair tissues. A regular pattern of healthy sleep can also help you maintain a healthy weight and keep your immune system strong.
Healthy sleep also aids in your mental and emotional health. Overnight, bits of information that were gathered during the day are transferred from short-term memory into long-term memory. In addition, after people sleep, they retain information and perform memory tasks better. A healthy sleep schedule can help you stay alert, engaged and motivated. In addition, getting enough sleep can help your mood and prevent feelings of anxiety or depression.
Sleep Apnea
You’ve read books about how to get a good night of sleep and followed all of the advice. Every night, you go to bed at the same time in a cool, dark room and your alarm goes off at the same time every morning—including weekends. You make sure dinner is finished at least three hours before bedtime and you stay away from the computer and your smartphone before going to sleep. So why are you still so tired during the day? Despite these good habits, the problem may be a medical condition called sleep apnea. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea in Wylie, TX, Dr. Guardiola may be able to prescribe a comfortable oral appliance that will help you get a peaceful night of sleep again.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a medical condition that causes breathing to temporarily stop during sleep. There are actually two forms of this condition. One is neurologically based and quite rare; the other more commonly seen form is called obstructive sleep apnea. When you sleep, your entire body relaxes, including your tongue and the other soft tissue in your throat. In some people, this tissue relaxes to the point of blocking your air passage. Then, as you try to breathe, the air that does get by vibrates the tissue causing the most common indicator of sleep apnea—loud snoring.
Other Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Of course, everyone snores sometimes. However, if snoring is accompanied by any of these other symptoms, then it’s time to consider the possibility that you or a loved one has sleep apnea. These include:
Consistent morning headaches or a sore throat
Frequently needing to go to the bathroom during the night
Irritability and moodiness during the day
Daytime drowsiness
Memory problems and difficulty concentrating
Health Concerns Connected to Sleep Apnea
In addition to these side effects, sleep apnea is also connected to a number of illnesses and diseases. Researchers have not yet concluded that there is a cause-and-effect relationship, but they know that sleep apnea can exacerbate conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, risk of stroke, diabetes and depression. So, get a good night’s sleep, and avoid these health risks by seeking sleep apnea therapy from your dentist in the Wylie, Sachse, Murphy.
An Oral Appliance to Treat Sleep Apnea
For many years, a CPAP machine was the gold standard for treating sleep apnea. However, many people would not consistently use their machines because they are uncomfortable and bulky. Alternatively, Dr. Guardiola can prescribe an oral appliance called a mouthguard that gently shifts your lower jaw forward to keep your airway open. Worn consistently, a restful night of sleep will be yours again. Call our Wylie Dental Office to schedule your sleep apnea consultation.