Why does Sleep Apnea make you Feel so Tired all of the Time?

Categories: Sleep Disorders

why sleep apnea makes you feel sickSCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ CA

Waking up and feeling like you did not get enough rest is common for adults. You may dismiss the tired feelings as being overworked or overstressed. However, a lack of sleep can cause additional symptoms that you may not be able to explain or connect with other health concerns. Sleep apnea is a common sleep condition and may be the cause of your restless sleep, leaving you feeling tired. Therefore, your Scotts Valley sleep apnea dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry share reasons why sleep apnea makes you feel so tired all of the time and how you can reclaim a restful night’s sleep with the proper treatment.

Your Breathing Ceases

It may sound frightening, but when you suffer from sleep apnea, your body stops breathing periodically. As you fall asleep and become relaxed, your throat and tongue can partially block your airway. The blockage starts small and results in light snoring while you sleep. Over time, the condition may increase where your airway becomes completely blocked. When this occurs, your body does not get enough oxygen and results in your brain waking your body to clear the obstruction so it can breathe. The sleep apnea dentists in Los Gatos near you at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry advise that the episodes may not be detectible. In contrast, while you sleep, the interruptions continuously repeat throughout your sleep cycle.

Your Interrupted Sleep Cycle

Your sleep cycle consists of four stages and a REM stage that repeats throughout the night. Sleep apnea is a condition that disturbs the sleep cycle when your body interrupts itself to resume breathing. Your Santa Cruz sleep apnea dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry state that since the interruptions occur all night, your body does not complete the sleep cycle leaving you feeling drained and sleepy the next day. The American Sleep Association recommends seven to nine hours of sleep for an average adult aged 25 – 45 years. However, when you suffer from sleep apnea, even when you sleep seven to nine hours, your body may only have gotten three to four hours of restful sleep.

Long Term Impacts of Sleep Apnea

Feeling sleepy a few days out of the week may not seem like a big deal, but when you lose sleep every night due to sleep apnea, it begins to appear in other areas of your health. When your brain does not receive enough oxygen for normal function, it can cause a decline in neurological functions. Your sleep apnea dentists in Scotts Valley at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry report patients who have a difficult time thinking, concentrating, and become irritable or moody may be suffering from a sleep-breathing disorder. Sleep apnea can also increase your risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, morning headaches, loss of interest in intimacy, heart attack, and stroke.

 Sleep Apnea Treatments

Sleep apnea is a severe health condition that could risk more health complications if it remains unaddressed. Your professional sleep apnea dentists in Los Gatos at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry offers multiple treatments for patients who suffer from sleep apnea. The best treatment for your condition depends on your level of severity of sleep apnea and your oral health condition.

  • Oral Appliance Therapy – For mild causes of airway obstruction, an oral appliance worn during sleep can maintain an open airway preventing your body from waking throughout the night.
  • Tongue-Ties and Frenectomy – A tongue-tie could be the cause of your sleep apnea and is treatable through a frenectomy. Untreated tongue-tie could result in an open mouth posture, which collapses the airway. The removal of the band of tissue under your tongue through a minor surgical procedure could restore your restful nights.
  • Myofunctional Therapy & Buteyko Breathing – Myofunctional therapy is physical therapy for your mouth that can retrain the muscles of your mouth and face. Buteyko breathing is a holistic method to eliminate the adverse effects of over-breathing by placing surgical tape over your mouth during sleep. This forces you to breathe through your nose. However, be sure to discuss this treatment option with your dentist before trying it, as it may not be a safe option for you.

Sleep Apnea Dentists in Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley, California

Always feeling tired can prevent you from focusing on your daily activities. Untreated sleep apnea will only exacerbate symptoms and lead to additional health risks that may be avoidable otherwise. Therefore, if you suffer from sleep apnea or are consistently tired with no answers as to why feel free to contact your Santa Cruz friendly sleep apnea dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry at (831) 438-4411 or request an appointment online.