Sleep Apnea Symptoms

There’s no doubt that regular exercise and a heart-healthy diet are important for preventing and treating cardiovascular disease. But sleep is also a key part of your body’s overall health. If you don’t get enough sleep, or your sleep is interrupted by pauses in breathing (called apnea), the oxygen levels in your blood drop. This deprives your organs of the oxygen they need, which can increase inflammation and damage your blood vessels. Undiagnosed sleep apnea is also linked to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.

The most common type of sleep apnea symptom is obstructive sleep apnea, which happens when the throat muscles relax and block the airway. It can lead to loud snoring and disturb the sleep of others. Other symptoms include daytime drowsiness, memory problems, mood changes and an inability to concentrate. Some people have a dry mouth or sore throat, and some wake up needing to urinate often.

Recognizing Sleep Apnea Symptoms and When to See a Dentist

People who have mild sleep apnea may not experience any other symptoms, but they still stop breathing several times per hour. The condition is usually only diagnosed when the person has a sleep study done and provides a record of these events.

There are many ways to treat obstructive sleep apnea, including losing weight, wearing a mouthguard or sleeping on the side, using a CPAP machine, or having surgery to remove excess tissue in the throat and/or nose, or getting a new or different nose. In some cases, a dentist can help by fitting you for a device that holds the lower jaw forward while you sleep to create more space in your throat.