Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley CA
Sleep disorders, which are defined as any condition that leads to substandard sleep, are an epidemic in the United States. The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that anywhere from 50 million to 70 million Americans do not get enough quality sleep on a nightly basis. Millions of these individuals experience troubled sleep because they suffer from obstructive sleep apnea but your alcohol consumption can elevate your risk of both sleep problems and sleep apnea. We explore that topic in greater detail today on the blog.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea, or obstructive sleep apnea, is a serious medical condition that occurs when you experience a collapse of the airway while you sleep. Someone with sleep apnea may make choking or gasping sounds when they sleep. For many, these airway blockages totally interrupt breathing. Your brain reacts as if you are choking to death and signals the body to come out of sleep and resume the normal breathing cycle – even though you likely never consciously wake up during this.
It is important to identify the warning signs of sleep apnea. Loud snoring that occurs regularly is the most common symptom.
Other indicators of sleep apnea include:
- Experiencing dry mouth when you wake up
- Frequently having a headache in the morning
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Daytime fatigue
- Trouble concentrating
The relation between alcohol and sleep apnea
While it is true that not all snorers have sleep apnea, if you have sleep apnea there is a high probability that you also snore. If you drink alcohol, especially right before bed, this can exacerbate both snoring and sleep apnea.
It can take as many as 14 hours for your body to metabolize even one alcoholic drink. Alcohol makes muscles relax – including the muscles inside your mouse and throat, which can lead to a collapse of the airway and create the apneic event that occurs for someone with sleep apnea. The more alcohol that you drink, the greater this relaxation effect, which can then increase the amount of tissue that sags into your airway. As your body pushes air around this obstruction, it creates vibrations that emanate the noise you hear when someone snores.
The risks of sleep apnea
Knowing this, you can see why it is generally recommended that people diagnosed with sleep apnea abstain from drinking or greatly limit their consumption of alcohol. Whether you drink or do not drink, if you do have sleep apnea or are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should be screened by a qualified health professional. Failure to treat sleep apnea will only make the disorder worse.
Over time, the potential consequences can include:
- Negative effect on your cardiovascular health, up to and including stroke
- Unexplained weight gain
- Anxiety or depression
- An elevated risk of Type II diabetes
- Hindered cognitive function
- A higher risk of being in a car accident because you are fatigued
Treating sleep apnea in Los Gatos, Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley in California
While a sleep apnea diagnosis only can come from a qualified sleep specialist, Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry can provide treatment for your sleep apnea. These treatments may include the use of a CPAP device or, in rare cases, surgery. Drs. Max and Ariana Ebrahimian have found success treating sleep apnea through oral appliance therapy. This entails wearing a prescribed oral appliance that is customized to fit your specific mouth. When worn this oral appliance maintains an open airway by bringing the lower jaw forward, thus preventing the airway blockages from occurring. To find out more about how we treat sleep apnea, make an appointment today. Just call (831) 438-4411 or schedule a consultation online.
