It is believed that many adults have sleep apnea but aren’t properly diagnosed. If you’re one of those undiagnosed patients, you could have unexpected surgical complications or simply drag through your daily life feeling exhausted. If it feels like no amount of sleep is ever enough and you wake up just as tired as you lay down at night, it’s time to consider the possibility of undiagnosed sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious medical issue that causes long pauses in breathing during sleep. Those pauses can cause you to wake up over and over during the night, even if you don’t realize you’re doing it. If you share your bed with someone each night, they may notice that you snore loudly. They may even hear you gasping for breath as your breathing stops and then restarts each night.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you may also have daytime side effects like feeling extremely tired even after sleeping eight or more hours overnight. Daytime exhaustion can make it difficult to concentrate at work or while driving a motor vehicle, which increases your risk of making mistakes or having a car accident.
Why is Sleep Apnea Misdiagnosed?
Sleep apnea is often misdiagnosed because the most common symptoms are easily assigned to other medical conditions. Someone who experiences daytime fatigue, lack of concentration, and depression or anxiety may easily assume that their fatigue and concentration issues are due to their depression or anxiety.
There are also many other health conditions that can lead to fatigue and lack of mental clarity, including obesity. Many people diagnosed with sleep apnea are also obese, and obesity is associated with low activity levels and poor dietary choices. A sedentary lifestyle and a diet deprived of nutrients can also lead to fatigue and a lack of mental clarity. Add that many people with sleep apnea also have diabetes, and there’s even more room to overlook potential sleep disorders.
What You Can Do About Sleep Apnea
Oral appliances and dental guards are just two of the most effective treatment options for sleep apnea. If you wake up tired or often have morning headaches despite getting an adequate amount of sleep for your body, it’s time to visit Pacific Dental Care to discuss the potential for sleep apnea. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, our experts can determine if collapsed tissue is the cause and fit you with an oral appliance that helps you sleep better every night and feel better every day.