At Pacific Dental Care, we provide more than just orthodontic and cosmetic services. We assist in treating sleep apnea, which is a common problem among our patients. When we see a need, we try to do what we can to treat it. One thing a dentist does is help reduce suffering. When a condition starts to mess with your sleep, it can have some staggering effects on your oral and overall health.
Who in Your Life Has Sleep Apnea?
You might have noticed someone close to you experiences or exhibits the following:
- Insomnia (or some sort of difficulty sleeping)
- Loud snoring (especially at night)
- Waking up with shortness of breath
- Snorting, choking sounds at night
- Headaches upon waking
- Periodically and unintentionally falling asleep during the day or during activities
- Extreme drowsiness throughout each day
All of the symptoms listed above are indications of sleep apnea, which if left untreated can lead to:
- Heart disorders
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Strokes
- Brain tumors
Additionally, fatigue experienced from lack of sleep due to sleep apnea can (and will) interfere with your day-to-day tasks and your work.
How can sleep apnea be treated?
First step is get a consultation. Set up your complimentary consultation with our office if you’re curious about addressing symptoms linked to sleep apnea.
During your appointment in our office, we’ll take a scan of your airway and determine the source of the problem. Once we diagnose, we’ll know what further actions to take. This might involve fabrication of an oral device which our staff can custom-create. We can also refer you to a sleep apnea specialist or sleep specialist for advanced cases. A “sleep study” might be necessary to learn more about your individual case and circumstances.
Sleep apnea can also be dependent on your behavior. You might have to make some drastic life changes if you wish to see any improvements in your health. Obesity is inextricably linked to sleep apnea, so it may be worth looking into planning out a new nutrition plan and physical activity schedule to lose significant weight.
What Can I Do on My Own?
Some relatively straightforward changes to your diet will make vast improvements to your overall health. Cut out food and beverages with sugar. Limit caffeine intake. Drink plenty of water — even a cold glass of water first thing in the morning will help stimulate your metabolism immediately. Be a tough guy and drink your coffee black. If not, try cinnamon as a substitute for cream and sugar.
Eating in smaller quantities will help. Limiting the amount you actually eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner will help you lose weight and feel less bogged down. You won’t overeat and gain excess weight. Snacking less between meals or choosing healthy foods like carrots or almonds will also go a long way. Many healthy alternatives will be high in fiber (which curbs your appetite).
Keep track of what your meals consist of. Isolate the foods that leave you feeling energized and awake and keep with those. Cut out foods that make you feel sluggish. Form a diet plan with a nutritionist.
If you’d like to learn some other ways to handle your sleep apnea, contact Pacific Dental Care to set up your sleep apnea consultation today.