If you are always tired or have morning headaches even after getting adequate sleep, you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can deny you good rest, preventing you from performing your daily tasks effectively. Sleep Services of Maryland LLC provide sleep medicine in Rockville, MD, to help you get quality sleep.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep is essential as it helps our bodies rest, repair, and recharge while improving our mental and physical health. However, factors may disrupt your sleep, leaving you tired early in the morning. Sleep apnea refers to a severe sleep disorder that occurs when your breathing continually stops and starts again, which may cause you to snore loudly and wake up frequently gasp for breath in the middle of the night. The cause of your breathing interruptions depends on the type of sleep apnea you have. The three types of sleep apnea are:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when your throat muscles relax excessively, narrowing your airway. This lowers the oxygen supply in your blood, and upon sensing this disruption, your brain may rouse you from sleep to reopen the airway. The pattern of gasping or choking may occur about 30 times every hour, preventing you from having a deep, restful sleep.
- Central sleep apnea
Central sleep apnea is a sleep condition that occurs due to a dysfunction in the muscles that regulate your breathing. This may lead to shortness of breath, preventing you from getting enough sleep.
- Complex sleep apnea
Complex sleep apnea displays the symptoms of both central and obstructive sleep apnea. The professional team at Sleep Services of Maryland LLC diagnose and offer treatments for obstructive, central, and complex sleep apnea to ensure that you get adequate rest at night. Sleep apnea can cause heart disease, blood pressure, and neurological disorders if left untreated.
How can your doctor diagnose sleep apnea?
The following symptoms may indicate that you have sleep apnea:
- Loud snoring
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Dry mouth
- Morning headaches
- Sore throat
- Frequent urination at night
Sleep Services of Maryland LLC providers may discuss your symptoms and conduct a physical exam to rule out other life-threatening diseases. They may also perform polysomnography (PSG) sleep study if necessary. They may also advise you to see an otolaryngologist to assess the structural abnormalities that may obstruct your breathing. They may also refer you to a neurologist for other medical tests.
What are the available treatments for sleep apnea?
Your doctor may recommend wearing an oral appliance while sleeping to manage obstructive sleep apnea. The device is fitted over your teeth, holding your jaw to ensure that you inhale and exhale effortlessly. Your provider may recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for severe obstructive sleep apnea. The machine provides a constant supply of oxygen in your blood. It also prevents loud snoring and helps you have a good night’s sleep. The team may create a treatment plan including surgery or medications to treat complex or central sleep apnea.
If you experience sleep apnea symptoms, call the Sleep Services of Maryland LLC or book an appointment online for treatment.
