For people who experience obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, the existence of the sleep disorder isn’t always obvious. Typically, one of the earliest and most consistent signs of sleep apnea is the increasingly loud snoring that results from it. However, you might not realize that you snore every night, as it isn’t usually loud enough to wake you up fully. Despite this, sleep apnea can constantly interrupt your sleep and breathing cycles, making it almost impossible to reach deep R.E.M. levels of sleep so your brain and body can rest. Today, we look closer at how sleep apnea deprives you of deep sleep, and why it can become such a concern to your overall wellbeing.
The mechanics behind obstructive sleep apnea
Sleep apnea means to stop breathing in your sleep, and OSA is the most common form of the condition. It occurs when mouth and/or throat tissues collapse into the airway while you sleep, obstructing it until you can no longer breathe. As the obstruction grows, it forces your breathing to become louder, which is why snoring is often indicative of the condition. However, the snoring stops suddenly when your airway becomes completely obstructed, as does your breathing altogether. Your body will react to lack of oxygen by waking up just enough to clear the airway. You won’t usually be conscious of the disruption, but it can prevent your brain and body from settling into the deep sleep that they require.
Continued disruption to your sleeping and breathing
The problem with sleep apnea is that the episodes of airway obstruction don’t stop on their own. After your body clears the airway and settles back down to sleep, the cycle of tissues collapsing into the airway will repeat itself. For some patients, these episodes can repeat themselves hundreds of times in a single night, even when they aren’t aware of them. The repeated disruptions to your breathing and sleeping cycles can have a significantly detrimental effect on your overall health and wellbeing. It can also cause you to begin to suffer from symptoms of sleep deprivation, which can all the more distressing when you believe you’re sleeping peacefully every night.
How to deal with sleep apnea and rest better
For many people who experience obstructive sleep apnea, the good news is that the condition can often be treated comfortably and conservatively. The source of trouble often originates with mouth and throat tissues, and your dentist may be able to address it with the help of a custom-designed appliance that you can wear while you sleep at night. A sleep apnea appliance is designed to keep your airway open and clear throughout the night through strategic positioning of your lower jaw. The support the appliance provides helps keep your lower jaw in a comfortable, slightly forward position, preventing oral tissues from clogging the airway.
Learn if sleep apnea is depriving you of sleep
When you have sleep apnea, achieving the deep, restful sleep you need can be nearly impossible. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling the Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX, today at (936) 441-4600. We serve patients from Conroe and all neighboring communities.
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