Sleep Apnea
Williston Park, NY
 Sleep apnea is a diagnosis that many worry about because they do not quite understand it. However, here at Long Island Smiles, we have two dentists that are right up at the forefront of this diagnosis who can help you get treated for this condition and live a much more normal life. If you are currently suffering from sleep apnea, or think you may have it be based off of how others tell you that you act when you sleep, come in and see either Dr. Rein or Dr. Seltzer and let them help you figure out a plan.
The Basics of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is when your body does not breathe consistently while you are asleep. You struggle to breathe for one of numerous reasons, and you stop breathing for a few seconds, or sometimes longer, while you are asleep. This can lead to a wide variety of issues, including headaches, weight gain, heart issues, impotency, and memory loss. Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, including kids, but it most often affects men that are over 40 and overweight.
The Main Types of Sleep Apnea
There are three common types of sleep apnea. The first is central sleep apnea, and this is when the muscles controlling your breathing do not get the right signals sent to them from the brain. The second is obstructive sleep apnea, and this is when there is something blocking the airway when you are asleep, causing issues with breathing. The most common culprit is the soft tissues at the back of your mouth descending into your throat. The third is a combination of both of these types of apnea. The longer you go without a diagnosis and treatment, the worse these conditions can get, and the more symptoms you are likely to end up having.
Treating Sleep Apnea
There are quite a few different ways to treat sleep apnea. The first part of treating this disease is to get a proper diagnosis. Once you know what kind of sleep apnea you are dealing with, you are then better able to treat the condition. If you have a mild case of sleep apnea, you have some changes that are going to be most effective in treating the condition, such as losing a little weight, quitting smoking, or even changing the position you sleep in. If your case is a bit more severe, you may need a dental device. For the most severe cases of sleep apnea, you may have to sleep with a machine that keeps pressure on your airway to keep it open, called a CPAP machine, or you may require surgery.
If you want to find out more about sleep apnea, give Long Island Smiles a call. We can set you up with a consultation to find out more about what sleep apnea is, and how we would go about diagnosing it in you or your loved one. The sooner you can get in and get seen, the sooner you can start having a good night's sleep. |
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