Sleep Apnea Treatment Overview

Sleep Apnea Treatment Overview

Did you know that snoring and sleep apnea are not one in the same? Many people who live with a snorer may automatically worry that their spouse or family member has sleep apnea. Fortunately, it is possible to be someone who snores, but who never wakes from it during a night of rest. Those with sleep apnea wake many times throughout the night.

Sleep apnea is actually the result of the soft tissue of your throat collapsing back on itself as you sleep. It is quite dangerous, and it is why Dr. Norkiewicz and associates consult with patients of Rockville Dental Arts in Rockville, MD, to help them diagnose and begin receiving sleep apnea treatment.

Let’s look a bit more at sleep apnea before we consider treatment for the condition. If you, or someone in your family, are a snorer, you know that the sound comes from their throat. It happens when the air has to pass through their mouth and nose and into their throat – which is narrowed because of the soft tissue relaxing against the back of the throat.

Try it for one moment. Lift your head and imitate a snore. You see that if the throat was closed, you would have to do something to force the air through. As you wait for your body to take that step, though, you are technically no longer breathing! This is sleep apnea, and almost everyone who suffers from it will snort or gasp awake. They may not know how many times per night it happens, but for most, it happens to such an extent that it jeopardizes their health, wellbeing, and effective sleep.

Imagine if someone shook you awake dozens of times each night. They would knock you out of your sleep pattern, and this would have terrible effects on your health. Holding your breath for up to 20 seconds at a time, dozens of times per night also causes long-term health issues.

Patients with sleep apnea may have high blood pressure, daytime fatigue, mood swings, and lowered immune systems. The sense of panic that the body experiences in periods of wakefulness is also harmful. Thus, you must get sleep apnea diagnosed and treated. Fortunately, it is not that difficult. With special devices and appliances and different bedtime rituals, sleep apnea can be managed.

Contact Us

If you have questions about sleep apnea treatments, just give us a call at our Rockville, MD office at (301) 424-2030. You can also use our online contact form and one of our staff will get back to you promptly.