October is a month during which horror movies are on practically every TV channel and your kids may eat so many sugary treats that they don’t sleep well. So it’s not surprising that you might not sleep as well as usual. Fortunately those things will pass, so you can get a good night’s rest. In contrast, sleep apnea symptoms won’t go away without treatment. Until then, you’ll suffer from some pretty scary effects.

The good news is, you’ll find relief from the disorder at Houston Uptown Dentists. Prompted in part by her husband’s diagnosis of apnea, Dr. Juarez has undergone extensive training in sleep apnea treatment. In fact, she founded a business called Sweet Dreams Sleep Solutions that is focused on treating apnea and TMJ disorders, another condition that makes it tough to enjoy restful sleep. 

If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Juarez by calling 832-463-1021 today. In the meantime, you can read more about the condition here.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms Can Be Pretty Scary

You may look like a zombie in the morning if you don’t get enough rest and feel like one throughout the day due to your inability to focus on tasks. Your loved ones may be frightened by your loud snoring at night. A lack of restful sleep can make you so irritable that your coworkers may avoid you. 

While these symptoms are certainly annoying, sleep apnea can have some much scarier effects on your health. Research has linked it to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Sleep apnea sufferers are also at a higher risk for vehicle accidents. 

Blocked Airway Causes Frequent Sleep Interruptions

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when your airway becomes blocked – often by your tongue or other soft tissue – while you sleep. This causes you to briefly stop breathing and gasp for air, something that your bed partner may notice in addition to your snoring. For those with severe sleep apnea, these brief interruptions can happen hundreds of times a night. No wonder you feel tired the next day! 

Find the Right Treatment Option 

One way of getting a sleep apnea diagnosis is to go to a sleep center. However, we offer a more convenient option: a take-home sleep test system called ARES™. The system collects data while you sleep, then we send the data to a board-certified sleep physician. Once we have your diagnosis, we can determine which kind of treatment will work best for you.

The key to treating sleep apnea is keeping your airway unobstructed throughout the night. The two most common ways of doing so are a CPAP machine or an oral appliance. 

The CPAP sends a stream of air into your throat, usually through a small face mask. The appliance looks a lot like a sports mouthguard, and it works by shifting your jaw into a position that keeps your airway open. While the CPAP is effective at keeping your airway clear, some patients have difficulty adjusting to it. If you’re concerned about a CPAP, we can fit you for a custom-made appliance. Unlike a CPAP, it requires no batteries or electricity and generates no noise. Since it fits easily into a pocket or purse, it can be taken and used virtually anywhere. 

A third option that may help lessen your sleep apnea symptoms is laser treatment. We can use a laser to painlessly tighten tissue in the back of your throat, to help keep your airway open. 

Call Houston Uptown Dentists today at 832-463-1021 to request an appointment in Houston, TX.