Category: Sleep Apnea

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

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Without proper sleep apnea treatment from a dentist , sleep apnea can be a serious, and even life-threatening, sleep disorder. The frequent sleep interruptions resulting from sleep apnea can cause an irregular heartbeat and increased blood pressure, which increase your risk of suffering a stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and obesity. Here is a look at the primary causes of sleep apnea.

Smaller than Average Windpipe
The size of your windpipe is affected by the bone structure of your head and neck. If your windpipe is smaller than average, it is more difficult for your airway to remain open while you’re lying down. When you lie down, more pressure is placed on the muscles of your neck, windpipe, and tongue. If your tongue and tonsils are larger than your windpipe, they can obstruct your airway when they are under pressure, causing sleep apnea .

Windpipe Obstruction Due to Obesity
As you gain weight, the fatty tissues in the walls of your windpipe will thicken, and causes your airway to narrow. As the muscles of your throat relax during sleep, your airway will narrow even further, leading to windpipe obstruction and breathing difficulties. When your brain senses your inability to breathe, it will briefly awaken you to restore breathing.

The Brain Fails to Transmit Signals to Muscles
Though it is rare, sleep apnea can sometimes be caused by your brain’s failure to transmit the right signals to the muscles that are responsible for controlling your breathing. This can occur as a result of the aging process. Your body will make no effort to breathe for a brief period of time, and you may awaken feeling short of breath, and have a difficult time falling asleep or staying asleep.

If you’re in need of sleep apnea treatment in Chicago , you should visit one of our experienced dentists at University Associates in Dentistry. We recommend oral appliance therapy using custom-fitted oral appliances as an alternative to CPAP or corrective surgery. To schedule a dental consultation with one of our dentists to discuss your sleep apnea treatment options, call us today at (312) 704-5511.

The Hidden Dangers of Sleep Apnea

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Dangers of Sleep Apnea Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition characterized by difficulties in breathing during sleep, leading to snoring. Snoring can be far more than just an annoyance for the sufferer and their partner. Sleep apnea can also increase the risk of contracting a number of dangerous medical conditions.

High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease
Waking at frequent intervals during the night can stimulate overproduction of certain hormones, leading to high blood pressure. The low blood oxygen levels caused by sleep apnea can worsen the condition. Sleep apnea increases the danger of heart disease, probably because of the associated oxygen depletion. The stress of constantly waking up may also be a contributory factor. In addition, sufferers are at increased risk of strokes and atrial fibrillation, due to disruptions in the oxygen supply to the brain.

Weight Gain and Insulin Resistance
Many sleep apnea sufferers are overweight. Excess fat deposits in the neck can obstruct breathing while lying down, worsening the symptoms. Sleep apnea can disrupt the endocrine system, leading to an increase in the hormone ghrelin, which can cause hunger and food cravings, particularly cravings for sweets and carbohydrates. In addition, disrupted sleep can lead to sluggishness during the day and can lower daytime metabolism. Losing weight and increasing exercise levels can help to relieve sleep apnea symptoms.

Asthma, Acid Reflux, and Automobile Accidents
Many patients with sleep apnea also suffer from asthma or acid reflux, although no direct link between these conditions has yet been found. One of the most dangerous indirect side effects of sleep apnea is daytime drowsiness. Sufferers have been known to have slower response times or even fall asleep while driving. They are far more likely to be involved in automobile accidents than non-sufferers.

At University Associates in Dentistry , we offer treatments for this potentially hazardous condition. If you suffer from sleep apnea in Chicago, our practitioners may be able to assist you. To find out more about how we may be able to help you achieve healthy sleep patterns, visit our website, or call us at (312) 704-5511.

Choosing the Right Sleep Apnea Treatment for You

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Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can have life-threatening consequences. Unfortunately, many people avoid seeking treatment, because they think that they will need to use a CPAP machine, which can be uncomfortable and hard to get used to. While it may sound strange, you can receive alternative relief from sleep apnea by calling your dentist. Your dentist can help with CPAP therapy, but they can also offer other treatment options. This information will help you make the right decisions about treating your sleep apnea.

 

There are treatments beyond CPAP therapy.

Most people associate sleep apnea treatment with CPAP machines, which require users to wear a mask while they sleep that dispenses forced air to keep the airway open. This is an effective treatment that works well for many people. However, some people can’t adjust to wearing a CPAP mask or simply prefer not to, and those people may be good candidates for oral appliance therapy. This treatment involves the use of a custom-made appliance that sits in your mouth and gently repositions your lower jaw and your tongue to make sure your airway stays open.

 

It can take time to adjust to your chosen treatment method.

Sleeping with any kind of device in your mouth or on your face can be a challenge. For most people, it takes a few weeks to completely adjust to their treatment. Your dentist can help you create a plan to gradually increase your usage, until you can sleep as normal. Don’t give up on a treatment because it initially feels uncomfortable. Instead, talk to your doctor or dentist about possible adjustments to improve your comfort.

 

Some people benefit from multiple treatments.

Depending on the severity of your sleep apnea, your dentist may recommend that you try both a CPAP machine and an oral appliance. These two treatments working together may provide a better level of relief for some people.

 

If you’re been diagnosed with sleep apnea in Chicago, make an appointment at University Associates in Dentistry to find a treatment that works for you. For more information, call (312) 704-5511.

 

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

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When you sleep, the muscles in your throat relax. With sleep apnea, however, they relax too much, allowing them to collapse on your airway and prevent you from breathing. Although sleep apnea can happen to anyone, being overweight or having a large neck can increase your risk of developing it.

 

Watch this video to learn more about sleep apnea. When the airway is restricted, you will wake up to gasp for air. This cycle can happen hundreds of times per night.

 

If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, your dentist can help. Make an appointment with University Associates in Dentistry to discuss your symptoms and learn about your treatment options. Contact our dentist office in Chicago at (312) 704-5511 to schedule a visit.

What Exactly Is Sleep Apnea?

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Sleep apnea occurs when the airway is obstructed or breathing is otherwise disrupted during sleep. With obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form, the throat collapses on the airway during rest, cutting off the supply of oxygen. Sleep apnea is a serious condition with many potentially significant consequences. Fortunately, your dentist has solutions that could help you get the rest you need.

 

Sleep apnea sufferers frequently wake up hundreds of times each night in apnea episodes in which they gasp for air. The episodes happen so quickly that sufferers may not even be aware that they are happening and may not know that they have sleep apnea until a partner tells them. If it is not treated, sleep apnea can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, heart disease, and other health problems.

 

At University Associates in Dentistry, we can help patients overcome sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy. Find out how our dentists in Chicago can help you get a better night’s sleep by calling (312) 704-5511.

Here’s Why You Need to Treat Your Sleep Apnea

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Physicians and dentists alike agree that it’s critical to get sleep apnea under control. Sleep deprivation can increase your risk of serious medical complications, some of which may be life-threatening. You can hear more about them when you watch this informative video, presented by a professor of neuroscience.

This professor explains that sleep deprivation inhibits your brain’s ability to form new memories, and it increases the levels of a toxic protein called beta amyloid. Beta amyloid in the brain is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, failure to seek sleep apnea treatment may increase the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

University Associates in Dentistry is your source for effective, non-CPAP sleep apnea treatment in Chicago. Call us today at (312) 704-5511, and ask us how our dentists can treat your sleep apnea.

Get a Better Night’s Sleep Without a CPAP

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The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine has long been used to manage sleep apnea in patients who suffer from moderate to severe symptoms. But lots of people have problems wearing one all night long. It can feel uncomfortable and unnatural, and the machine makes noises that can keep you and your partner awake. There’s a better solution. Talk to a dentist about your alternative options.

A dentist can provide effective sleep apnea treatment with a custom-made oral appliance. These devices are FDA-approved to manage sleep apnea. And unlike a CPAP machine, an oral appliance is small, comfortable, custom-fitted, and easy to keep clean. You’ll be sleeping soundly in no time, and your partner will appreciate the lack of snoring!

Sleep apnea treatment is a specialty here at the Chicago office of University Associates in Dentistry. Call (312) 704-5511 to schedule your consultation, and look forward to getting a better night’s sleep without a bulky, uncomfortable CPAP machine.

 

Why You Should Discuss Your Sleep Quality with Your Dentist

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If you spend your nights tossing and turning, or if you wake up feeling like you haven’t slept at all, it may not immediately cross your mind to call your dentist—but you should. Dentists are on the forefront of treating an extremely common and dangerous sleep disease called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea could be to blame for your fatigue and restless nights, and your dentist has the tools you need to overcome your condition and get some much-needed rest. Here is what you need to know.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissue in your neck obstructs your airway while you are sleeping. As a result, you can’t get any oxygen. You will wake up, gasp for air, and then fall back to sleep in quick succession in episodes called apneas. Apneas can occur hundreds of time per night, and although you may not be aware that they are happening, they can significantly disrupt your ability to get restful sleep. In addition to disturbing your sleep, sleep apnea increases the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even injuries from car accidents that are linked to fatigued driving.

How do you know if you have sleep apnea?

Often, people don’t know that they have sleep apnea until a partner complains about their snoring or tells them that they seem to be gasping for air when asleep. In other instances, you may visit your doctor to complain about unexplained fatigue, and he or she may order a sleep study that identifies your sleep apnea.

How can a dentist help?

CPAP machines are a common treatment for sleep apnea. They involve a mask that you wear while sleeping that uses forced air to keep your airway open. Although they can be effective, many people cannot tolerate them. Your dentist can offer an alternative with oral appliance therapy. This treatment involves wearing a device similar to a night guard that is custom-made for your mouth. It shifts your jaw forward gently, so your airway stays open. It is an effective alternative to CPAPs and a useful conjunctive treatment if you have severe sleep apnea.

Take the first step to a better night of sleep with the help of your dentist at University Associates in Dentistry. To schedule a consultation for sleep apnea treatment in Chicago, call (312) 704-5511.

Sleeping Better with the Help of Your Dentist

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Some people are prone to snoring, especially those who are overweight, heavy drinkers and/or mouth breathers. Chronic snoring may be an indication of sleep apnea, and this condition affects the quality of your waking life.

Sleep apnea happens when your airways are not open enough to comfortably allow air to get to your lungs and brain. Your body will repeatedly jolt awake throughout the night so you can catch your breath, which interferes with your sleep cycle and causes fatigue and headaches the next day. Your dentist can offer you Oral Appliance Therapy to alleviate your symptoms. The appliance will keep your airways open so you get the oxygen you need while you sleep. Your appliance will be small, custom-fitted for your mouth, and comfortable to wear. Using your sleep apnea appliance every night can help treat your symptoms so you can get a good night’s sleep.

If you need sleep apnea treatment and live in or near Chicago, look no further than University Associates in Dentistry. Made up of some of the best dentists in the area, our team can treat your sleep apnea and help you sleep through the night. Give us a call at (312) 704-5511.

What You Should Know About Sleep Apnea

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If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or you suspect that you have it, speak with your dentist right away. Though you might not immediately think of your dentist for sleep apnea care, he or she can treat your sleep apnea and give you as much information as you need. Continue reading to learn a few facts about sleep apnea before you visit your dentist.

It may look like depression or fatigue.

Often, sleep apnea is misdiagnosed or overlooked because the symptoms are very broad. During the night, your sleep will be disrupted by breathing problems, but you may not even know these problems have occurred. You will most likely experience symptoms during the day, like extreme fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and even signs of depression. In addition to these common symptoms, you may have a frequently dry mouth or sore throat. It is very important to tell your dentist all of your symptoms, no matter how insignificant they may seem.

It can affect your future health.

Though you may only be experiencing tiredness now, your sleep apnea may soon affect your overall health. With sleep apnea, you are likelier to experience fluctuations in weight, which can also affect your health. Due to the lack of oxygen that occurs with sleep apnea, you are at a higher risk of having high blood pressure, which can increase your chances of a heart attack or stroke. It is very important to your future health that you have sleep apnea diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

It can be effectively treated.

There are a few different ways to treat your sleep apnea. To help your overall sleeping routine, be sure to exercise regularly and avoid alcohol and sedatives. In addition to this lifestyle change, make a dental consultation to learn about sleep apnea treatments like a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, machine and oral appliances that are very effective.

Don’t let your sleep be disrupted and your future health suffer. Call University Associates in Dentistry for a dental consultation in Chicago to learn about sleep apnea treatments. Please call us at (312) 704-5511 to schedule your appointment.

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