How Snoring and Sleep Apnea Are Related

Often, snoring and sleep apnea go hand in hand. In fact, snoring is one of the most common and well-documented symptoms of sleep apnea. When a person has chronic and ongoing snoring problems, there is always a chance that they are also suffering from sleep apnea.

Now, it is not to say that snoring and sleep apnea are synonymous; many people suffer from bad snoring habits and never develop sleep apnea. However, in the diagnosis of sleep apnea, chronic snoring is one of the symptoms we always look for. When a person with sleep apnea has chronic snoring, we find that snoring is often intermittent with pauses, which will sometimes end in choking or gasping. These are additional signs that point to sleep apnea.

The challenge is that the patient is often asleep when these events occur. Nobody can truly be sure that they snore at night or whenever they fall asleep, simply because they are usually in too deep of a restive state to be disturbed by their own sound. Similarly, when a person suffering from sleep apnea chokes or gasps at the end of a pause during their snoring, they may have no idea that this is happening to them.

In cases like this, we have to rely on a family member or a partner to identify that these symptoms are occurring and to note how frequently. Since snoring can be completely independent of sleep apnea, it can be challenging to positively identify it, which is why we look for other symptoms as well.
Other common symptoms that go along with snoring and sleep apnea includes fatigue during the day. Many of the patients who suffer from sleep apnea find that they are unable to get enough sleep and that they feel sleepy throughout the day, periodically nodding off. People with sleep apnea may rapidly fall asleep during the daytime, as well. When combined with chronic snoring, this can be a clear symptom of sleep apnea.

Despite snoring and sleep apnea having such a distinctive relationship, we still always look for other signs and recommend that any patient who is having trouble breathing during sleep consult with their doctor about possible sleep apnea treatments.

If you have other symptoms like falling asleep during the day, headaches, problems with remembering or learning things, irritability and depression, trouble focusing or concentrating, or dry mouth and a sore throat, you definitely need to consult with your doctor about sleep apnea. In children, this condition can possibly manifest itself as irritability, inability to do well in school, and hyperactivity during the day. Additionally, children who suffer from sleep apnea may have a habit of breathing through their mouth, even during the day time.

While a few of the symptoms of sleep apnea are often dismissed as coincidental, such as snoring, it is important to seek treatment if the other symptoms occur.

Family Dentist  >  Orthodontics

How a Sleep Apnea Dentist in Chicago Can Help Your Energy Levels

As a sleep apnea dentist in Chicago, we can help you to have more energy and enjoy life again.  Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can literally change your life.  People that have never experienced it cannot understand how a lack of energy can make it difficult to stay up and watch a movie or even drive a car.  We get it, and we can help.
Fortunately, sleep apnea is a very treatable condition but first, we must determine if this is what you have.  In order to find out, we may recommend that you complete an at home sleep study that will tell us what your breathing is like while you sleep. Those with obstructive sleep apnea will gasp for breath throughout the night, typically, as a result of an obstruction.  In this situation, the muscles supporting the lower jaw are weak, and the jaw falls backwards at night.  When it does, the tongue falls backwards as well and blocks the airways as it does.  This can cause people to gasp for breath, snore, choke, and even stop breathing. Without enough oxygen, the body cannot function properly so this can cause you to wake up feeling tired, even if you slept for a full eight hours.
Since obstructive sleep apnea is caused by an obstruction (your tongue), we start by addressing that problem.  As a sleep apnea dentist in Chicago, we don't recommend surgery or other invasive solutions.  Instead, we offer a non-invasive approach that is comfortable and easy to use.  We will take a mold of your mouth and have a removable oral appliance created.  This looks like a full retainer that surrounds your upper and lower teeth.  The big difference is that it attaches.  This way your lower jaw is held in the proper position as you sleep, preventing your tongue from falling backwards.  While a simple concept, this can have dramatic results and completely change the lives of our patients.
If you are suffering from sleep apnea or think you may be due to constant fatigue, you should give us a call. Our patients report having improved energy and being able to do their favorite activities again after starting to wear their oral appliance.  Things like staying up for a movie night become possible when you all of a sudden have your energy back.  All you have to do is wear the appliance at bedtime and take it out again in the morning.
As a sleep apnea dentist in Chicago, we also help patients that have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are using a CPAP machine.  These machines can be bulky, noisy and uncomfortable, making it even harder to sleep.  While they are effective, many people don't use them due to how inconvenient they can be.  As long as your sleep apnea is mild to moderate, an oral appliance can be a viable alternative. If you have to use a CPAP, using them together can be more comfortable than a CPAP alone.

Dentist Chicago  >  Teeth Whitening