One of the most ancient ways of healing is through the realm of sleep. We find record of this in ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Greek civilizations. And their discovery remains true today as the medical world still depends on this simple process to aid in the recovery from any illness or injury. With that said, every day you put your body through a series of stresses that require a cycle of rest to balance them out. When you’re not able to get that needed recovery, your overall health suffers, and you experience a drop-off in your ability to function at your best. One of the remedies for this problem is to get sleep apnea treatment in State College. Read on to learn how it can help you out.
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What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where you partially wake up throughout the night due to interruptions in your breathing. It is triggered by a subconscious mechanism in your brain that sends a distress signal to alert you when your breathing has been inhibited.
The problem arises from one of three reasons:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – The most common type, this occurs when the lower jaw and tongue become so relaxed that they collapse while you’re sleeping and block your airway.
- Central Sleep Apnea – This results from a breakdown of the communication between the brain and the muscles that control breathing during sleep.
- Complex Sleep Apnea – Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the two.
How Sleep Apnea Affects You Throughout the Day
When you suffer from sleep apnea, you can experience a down-turn in how well you function throughout the day. Here are some of the symptoms to be on the lookout for:
- Fatigue – You may notice that during the day you never feel rested and endure constant lethargy.
- Decreased Clarity – You also want to take notice of any inability to focus throughout the day or irritability. These are common responses to not having enough rest.
- Sore Throat – When you awaken with a sore throat and dry mouth, it could be an indicator that you have had an obstruction in your breathing while sleeping.
- Snoring – While all snorers don’t necessarily have sleep apnea, the latter usually snore because of the blockage of their airway; therefore, it’s best to get checked out if you are a constantly loud sleeper.
- Broken Sleep – Frequently waking throughout the night is one of the most common signs of sleep apnea. If this is happening, you definitely want to bring it to your dentist’s attention.
It’s great to know that if you are suffering from the above listed symptoms, you don’t have to just deal with them. There is an abundance of help available to you. Reach out to your local dentist for more information on how sleep apnea in State College can be immediately corrected, and you can regain the vibrancy that you so desire.
About the Author
Dr. Donald Marks received both his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, he has completed a continued education program from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. A member of the American Dental Association and several other professional organizations, Dr. Marks practices at State College Dental Sleep Medicine and can be reached for more information through his website.