8 Signs that you may Suffer from Sleep Apnea

Categories: Sleep Disorders

signs you may have sleep apneaSanta Cruz, Scotts Valley CA

Perhaps you’ve heard of sleep apnea, but you don’t entirely know what obstructive sleep apnea is. Otherwise known as OSA, this condition causes a person to stop breathing during the night. When sleep apnea occurs, the soft tissues in your throat restrict or block your airway. It often results in loud snoring and daytime fatigue. Sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a sleep professional, but at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry, we can help by managing your sleep apnea.

OSA is no laughing matter. Obstructive sleep apnea can cause daytime fatigue, complications with medicines or surgeries, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and several other potentially serious conditions. That’s why Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry wants to help. Here are eight signs that you may have sleep apnea, and what you can do about it.

Sign 1) Snoring

Snoring is one of the most commonly noticed signs of sleep apnea. Lots of people snore, but obstructive sleep apnea snoring is particularly loud, obnoxious, and consistent—in comparison to snoring with a cold or allergies. Spouses or loved ones often find it hard to share a room with a person who snores loudly.

Sign 2) Dry Mouth 

Often waking in the morning with a sore throat or dry mouth can also be due to illness or allergens. It is possible, though, that may be due to sleep apnea. Dry mouth means you’re not producing enough saliva, and that can be harmful to oral health.

Sign 3) Headaches

Are you experiencing frequent headaches first thing in the morning? These headaches can be caused by sleep apnea because the intermittent pauses in your breathing limit the amount of oxygen your brain can receive. Plus, sleep apnea interrupts your brain during sleep, which means you feel tired all of the time, leading to recurring headaches.

Sign 4) Fatigue

As you go through your day, you may find yourself struggling to complete simple tasks. You may even have difficulty concentrating or become forgetful. Easily becoming frustrated or suffering from bouts of moodiness also can be signs you’re not getting enough rest because of your sleep apnea.

Sign 5) Anxiety 

Sleep apnea may cause exhaustion, as we’ve already noted. This may mean you’re over-caffeinating yourself to stay awake and alert. Drinking too much caffeine—whether it comes from sodas, energy drinks, or coffee—can lead to heightened levels of anxiety. It also can cause jaw clenching or teeth grinding, which can do damage to your teeth. Meanwhile, an overabundance of sugar in these drinks can weaken and rot your teeth, increasing your likelihood of cavities as well as potential cracks in your teeth if you’re also grinding.

Sign 6) Acid Reflux

If obstructive sleep apnea goes unaddressed, it may increase your chance of suffering from acid reflux, which occurs when stomach acid remains in your throat and the back of your mouth. Repeated instances of acid reflux damage the soft tissues in your throat and weaken the enamel on your teeth, which serves as a layer of protection against damage and decay.

Sign 7) Weight Gain

A common side effect of obstructive sleep apnea is having difficulty losing weight. Even if you have a healthy diet and you exercise regularly, your body will struggle to lose weight because you’re not getting proper rest, leaving your body unable to function at its best.

Sign 8) Diabetes

If your obstructive sleep apnea goes unaddressed for an extended period of time, you run a higher risk of developing diabetes. As mentioned earlier, your chance of developing other serious issues like heart disease and high blood pressure also elevates.

Treating sleep apnea in Scotts Valley

Obstructive sleep apnea is no joke. It can be life-threatening if it goes untreated and undiagnosed. If you’re located in the Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, or Scotts Valley, CA, areas, and you believe you or a loved one may have sleep apnea, don’t wait. Call us at (831) 438-4411 to schedule a consultation at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry.