Sleep Apnea Causes and Its Treatment
Do you feel tired even after having 8 hours of sleep? Do you suspect that you have sleep apnea? Well, whether you suspect having sleep apnea or you know that you have the disorder, it is important to know the cause of the condition. If you are not looking for sleep apnea treatment in Oklahoma City yet, take a look at this article and book your appointment with your doctor today.
Knowing What Sleep Apnea Is
Sleep apnea is a condition that you might experience without you even realizing that you have it. Your body may not be able to breathe rhythmically when you are asleep. As a result, there are pauses between your breaths. These pauses cause your body to come out of the REM and restorative sleep. Since you are not awakened by these jolts, you may not even realize that this is happening.
You may not go for sleep apnea treatment in Oklahoma City because you do not even know that you have this disorder. But you may feel tired and sleepy even after having, what it seems to you, a good night’s sleep.
Categories of Sleep Apnea:
There are three categories of sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea: When the muscles, in your throat relaxes to the point where it causes obstruction for the air flow, you experience obstructive sleep apnea.
Central sleep apnea: This is not as common as the previous one. However, if your brain is not sending signal to your body, your muscles cannot control the breathing. This results in sleep apnea.
Complex sleep apnea: If you are seeing a doctor for sleep apnea treatment, they will let you know whether you have complex sleep apnea, which is a combination of the two types mentioned above.
Since obstructive sleep apnea is more common, let us discuss the causes of the same. As mentioned before, when your throat muscles relax too much, it causes blockage that restricts air flow. Here are some common reasons why:
Narrow airpipe: You may have a narrow airpipe that hinders the airflow during your sleep. You may have orthodontic extractions, adenoids, genetics or enlarged tonsils that could be the reason of the narrow airpipe.
Obesity: One of the most common causes of sleep apnea is obesity. If you are obese, fat may deposit in your airpipe and that may cause obstructions.
Underdeveloped jaw: If you have underdeveloped jaws, it might hamper the breathing. Your dentist can assist you in sleep apnea treatment in case of this issue.
Wondering where to seek treatment. TMJ & Sleep Therapy Center of Oklahoma City treats you for sleep apnea by fixing any dental structural problems.
**Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to be a doctor's advice, nor does it create any form of patient-doctor relationship.