In our last post, Dr. Lechner, D.D.S., introduced the topic of snoring, what causes snoring, and potential side effects of snoring.
One of the major causes of snoring is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is an extremely common disease that affects millions and millions of Americans. When you suffer from sleep apnea, you actually stop breathing for several seconds at a time throughout the night. When this happens, your brain is forced to wake you up in order to start breathing again.
Sleep Apnea is a disease that is critical to receive treatment for. If you do not receive treatment, many other health problems can begin to arise. Sleep apnea comes in two forms: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). Below, Dr. Lechner takes a quick look at both types of sleep apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA):
OSA is caused when someone’s airway is partially or completely blocked. Blockage can occur for several reasons, including your throat muscle relaxing, excess fatty tissue, and more. If this occurs, you will not receive as much blood flow to your brain, which triggers your brain to wake you up to breathe. When you are awoken, you will let out a loud sound gasping for air, choking, or snorting.
Signs of OSA include:
- Snoring
- Headaches when you wake up
- Restless sleeping
- Daytime sleepiness
- And more
Causes of OSA include:
- Age
- Obesity
- Oversized tonsils and/or adenoids
- Alcohol consumption
- Smoking
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA):
Unlike OSA, CSA is a result of your brain failing to send signals to your body to breathe. While OSA is thought to be more of a physical problem, CSA is considered more of a mental/communication problem. It is important to note that CSA is not nearly as prevalent as OSA.
Signs of CSA include:
- Waking up short of breath
- Chronic fatigue
- Frequent changes in mood
- Trouble concentrating
Causes of CSA Include:
- Being oversight
- Heart disease
- Medications
- Parkinson’s disease
In our next blog post, Dr. Lechner will examine what treatment options are available for you. If you are in need of a dentist in the Delaware, OH area, feel free to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lechner. Dr. Lechner and his team are always welcoming new patients to their office.