What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Waking up after eight hours of sleep should make you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. In most cases, the problem is not the hours of sleep you get but the quality of breathing during the time you sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common breathing disorders that occurs during the night. It occurs when your breathing is interrupted during the night without your knowledge. The effects of obstructive sleep apnea occur quietly and affect your energy and health. At Hello Ortho, we have seen several patients who complain of tiredness and fatigue without knowing the cause. However, the cause of tiredness and fatigue in most of these patients is due to breathing during the night.

How Obstructive Sleep Apnea Affects Your Breathing

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in your throat become too relaxed during the night. The relaxation of the muscles in the throat blocks the airway, and this prevents you from breathing. The low levels of oxygen in the blood trigger the brain to wake you up just enough to breathe. However, this happens several times during the night.

A normal sleep cycle allows your body to go through a deep and restorative sleep. However, this is not the case if you are suffering from OSA. The obstruction of your breathing will interrupt your sleep cycle time and time again, and this does not give your body a chance to rest and recover. This is why most of the patients visiting Hello Ortho report that they are “sleeping all night but still feel exhausted.”

Common Signs You Should Not Ignore

Knowing the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea at the early stages is very important. The symptoms at night are the first to appear, although they may not be recognized by the patient. Vocal and continuous snoring is considered one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea. Pauses in breathing are another common symptom that is likely to be recognized at the early stages. Gasping sounds are also common when the patient starts breathing again.

The symptoms experienced during the day are likely to affect the patient’s daily routine. Tiredness is considered one of the most common symptoms experienced at the early stages. Headaches in the morning, difficulty concentrating, and dryness of the mouth are likely to affect the patient’s daily routine. Moodiness, irritability, and low levels of energy are likely to be experienced at the early stages.

What Increases Your Risk Of OSA

There are also other contributing factors that increase your risk of having obstructive sleep apnea. Being overweight is one of them. Being overweight makes your airway narrower. Your physical features may also be responsible for your sleep apnea. A small jaw, a large tongue, or large tonsils may block your airway. Age is also a contributing factor to sleep apnea. However, sleep apnea occurs at any age. Your lifestyle may also be responsible for your sleep apnea. Smoking or drinking alcohol before bedtime is likely to increase your risk of sleep apnea. Your family history may also be responsible for your sleep apnea. Your airway structure may be inherited in your family. Jaw alignment is also important. Your airway is important in sleep apnea.

Why Treatment Is Important

If you don’t get treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, you could experience serious medical problems in the future. The decrease in oxygen levels can put pressure on your heart and blood vessels. High blood pressure can also result from or be worsened by obstructive sleep apnea. Some of the serious medical problems you could experience include heart problems, arrhythmia, type 2 diabetes, and increased drowsiness, which could lead to car accidents, especially if you are driving. The best way to prevent all of this from happening is to get the right guidance from a specialized team such as Hello Ortho.

Treatment Options That Can Help

Our doctors give you several effective treatments that can be used to manage the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. One of the most common treatments is the CPAP machine. This machine forces air through the nasal passage using air pressure. This makes sure the airway is open throughout the night. Another effective treatment is the use of oral devices like mouth guards. The device helps you by moving the jaw forward. This ensures that the airway is open throughout the night. At Hello Ortho, we provide effective devices that are designed to give you comfort. This makes sure that the patient is able to use the appliance consistently. Making lifestyle changes is another effective way of managing sleep apnea. This includes losing weight, sleeping on the side, and establishing a routine. Doctors may also opt to perform surgery to remove the blocking tissues.

When Should You See A Doctor?

Many people do not take the symptoms of snoring and sleepiness seriously, considering them normal. However, the symptoms should not be taken lightly if they are persistent.

If you are experiencing symptoms of loud snoring, choking during sleep and excessive sleepiness, consulting a healthcare professional is advisable. This could help in early diagnosis and effective treatment. A consultation at Hello Ortho could provide the guidance you need to know if the symptoms are related to airway problems or jaw alignment.

Final Thoughts

OSA is not usually recognized, but its effects are very obvious. Recognizing the symptoms could be the first step towards getting healthy sleep and promoting good health. Healthy sleep starts with healthy breathing, and the support of experts at Hello Ortho could be the key to achieving this.