What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is the cessation of your breathing while you sleep, and it can occur in several different ways. For instance, central sleep apnea (CSA) involves neurological signals not making it to your breathing muscles. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the much more common form, is caused by mouth and throat tissues physically clogging your airway. OSA is typically accompanied by loud, excessive snoring, which occurs as oral tissues increasingly obstruct the airway. At a certain point, the airway will become completely blocked, which forces you to stop breathing until your body clears the obstruction. If you suffer from sleep apnea, then these episodes can repeat themselves hundreds of times every night.

Am I at Risk for Sleep Apnea?

If you snore excessively, then it may be an indication of sleep apnea. While the exact cause of your disorder may be unknown, there are certain risk factors that could make you more likely to develop it, such as:

  • Being overweight
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Smoking tobacco
  • Certain sleep aids and other medications
  • The presence of asthma
  • Abnormalities with your lower jaw
  • Abnormally sized mouth and throat tissues
  • And more

What Symptoms Should I Look For?

Because OSA involves the physical blockage of your airway, excessive and chronic snoring is one of its most prominent symptoms. However, because the snoring and interruptions to your breathing don’t always consciously wake you, you may not be aware that you snore so loudly or have sleep apnea. Nevertheless, the resulting loss of sleep and restricted air flow will have a notable impact on your daily life, and these symptoms could warn you of sleep apnea’s presence:

  • Daytime fatigue that grows worse every day
  • Constantly waking up with dry mouth
  • Chronic headaches and migraines, especially in the morning
  • Erratic mood swings/Unusual irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
  • High blood pressure and increased levels of stress
  • And more

Learn More About the Significance of Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Excessive snoring and obstructive sleep apnea can have significant, negative impacts on several different aspects of your health, wellbeing, and quality of life. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Celina Family Dentistry at (214) 851-0130. Located in Celina, TX, we also serve patients of all ages from Prosper, McKinney, Frisco, Anna, Pilot Point, and the surrounding communities.