What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

There has been a lot of research done on how sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea can affect the way you sleep, the way your body functions during the day, and your overall general health. Sleep disorders have been linked to several medical problems, which makes it extremely important to recognize and diagnose as early as possible. There are two kinds of sleep apnea–obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common of the two.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage in the airway. This obstruction can cause an individual that suffers from the disorder to snore, breath extremely shallow, or stop breathing altogether. These episodes of breathing complications can last anywhere from seconds to minutes, and can happen numerous times every hour. When this occurs, your body is never be able to go into the deep sleep that it requires to function at its best, and can cause an individual to experience many problems during the day, such as daytime drowsiness, inability to concentrate, headaches, and other problems. Unfortunately, sleep apnea oftentimes goes undiagnosed because it occurs during one’s sleep. Most often, it is a sleeping partner that will voice their concerns regarding their spouse’s breathing problems, which leads to the proper diagnosis.

It is very important that obstructive sleep apnea be diagnosed and treated. Sleep apnea is linked with diabetes, obesity, strokes, heart attacks, depression, acid reflux, and a number of other medical concerns. If you believe you are suffering from sleep apnea, it is recommended that you immediately call Dr. Milligan of Eastland Dental Center in Bloomington, Illinois, in order to discuss the possibility of having an oral appliance fabricated. This may assist in keeping your airway open at night, so you can get a better night’s sleep and decrease your risk for a number of health problems.