Sleep Apnea Can Be Dangerous if Left Untreated

Sleep apnea in Alabaster AL causes people to stop breathing during sleep, sometimes as often as 100 times per hour. Apnea, which means loss of breath, usually occurs for a few seconds at a time. Because of this, some people do not even know that they have this condition.

Longer periods of breathlessness that leave you gasping for breath are also common. These longer periods of apnea can last up to two minutes. Although sleep apnea is not always preventable, simple lifestyle changes can improve its symptoms dramatically.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Below is an extensive list of symptoms commonly associated with sleep apnea. However, having a few of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have this disorder. We encourage you to ask your doctor for a sleep study referral if you notice several of these symptoms and they interfere with your daily functioning.

• Cognitive difficulties, including memory loss and focusing problems
• Daytime fatigue and/or irritability
• Grinding your teeth at night
• Having to get up to use the bathroom a lot during the night
• Loud snoring
• Morning headaches
• Sore throat and/or dry mouth each morning
• Sweating during sleep
• Waking up gasping for breath, with or without a startle reflex

The first thing to do if you suspect that you have sleep apnea is visit your primary physician for a complete exam. Since primary care doctors are not experts in sleep disorders, you can ask your doctor for a referral to Alabama Dental Sleep and Wellness. Unfortunately, ignoring the problem can lead to serious health consequences like cognitive decline, stroke, heart disease, chronic high blood pressure, and several others.

What to Expect During Your Sleep Study

When you come to our clinic for a sleep study, a technician places three sensors on your body to determine brain, heart, and eye activity. Each of these sensors provides important clues about how you experience sleep apnea. You will also wear a breathing sensor, pulse oximeter, and respiratory belt.

After you leave in the morning, the technicians working with you prepare a report of their findings. We will reach out to discuss the result of your testing forsleep apnea in Alabaster AL and offer treatment recommendations as soon as one of our doctors has reviewed the report.