Sleep Apnea in Spring, TX

Spring TX Sleep Apnea

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder in America, affecting up to 22 million adults. Many people with sleep apnea do not even know that they suffer from this condition. At Consultants In Dental Aesthetics, Dr. Michael J. Landry is here to help. Learn more about sleep apnea below to get the help you need for a restful night’s sleep. Don't hesitate to stop by the office located at 9700 Louetta Road, Spring, TX 77379.

Understand The Basics

The most common type of sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA. In this type of apnea, the soft tissue of the palate and throat sags while you sleep, blocking your airway for 2-10 seconds or longer.  The blockage causes an interruption in breathing and blood oxygenation. This may occur dozens or even hundreds of times per night, leading to poor quality sleep, daytime drowsiness, and irritability.

In the long term, sleep apnea can also contribute to your risk of a heart attack or stroke, since these frequent interruptions in breathing interfere with proper blood oxygenation. Your Spring dentist is ready to help you find solutions to this severe health issue.

What Can Happen If Sleep Apnea Is Left Untreated?

Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that causes serious damage to your body over time and increases your risk of premature death. When you stop breathing in your sleep, you wake up startled. This causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. 

This can happen many times throughout the night which results in higher inflammation markers in the body. Sleep apnea is closely associated with serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, asthma, hypertension, and much more.

You are at an increased risk of developing these conditions if you have untreated sleep apnea. Sleep apnea also interferes with your mood, concentration, and restfulness which puts you at risk of getting into an accident while driving, developing a mood disorder like anxiety or depression, and developing cognitive problems.

Sleep Apnea Spring

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

This depends on the extent of your apnea, and your specific situation. Lifestyle changes are often recommended as part of sleep apnea treatment. For example, avoiding alcohol and sedative medications before bed and ceasing smoking can help reduce the effects of obstructive sleep apnea. Overweight or obese people may also be able to lose weight to treat their sleep apnea.

Consultants In Dental Aesthetics partners with Houston Sleep Apnea to offer patients Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) with custom-built night guards. These night guards are designed to shift the jaw into a forward position during sleep, which eliminates the risk of tissue sagging and blocking the airway. This, in turn, prevents OSA and allows you to get a healthy, restful night of sleep.

However, in some cases, patients with very severe sleep apnea may require a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. This type of machine uses a pump and a mask to send a stream of positively pressurized air into the lungs as you sleep. This prevents the airway tissue from sagging.

 Learn More From Houston Sleep Apnea – Our Partner Practice

If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea and you are interested in a diagnosis, sleep study, or just more information about apnea, book an appointment online with our partner practice, Houston Sleep Apnea, or get a free virtual consult. Dr. Michael J. Landry is an expert in sleep apnea treatment and oral appliance therapy and can help you sleep soundly once again. We proudly serve both Spring and Kohrville, TX.