If your partner keeps you awake snoring at night, it may be more serious than you think.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked while you’re sleeping. The less common type, central sleep apnea, occurs when your brain can’t send signals for your body to breathe.
What are signs that your partner might have sleep apnea?
Many people who have sleep apnea aren’t aware that they have it. Sometimes it’s their partner who first notices their symptoms.
Your partner may have sleep apnea if he or she experiences or has any of the following:
- Frequent stoppages of breathing during sleep
- Loud chronic snoring that frequently interferes with their partner’s sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Waking up frequently at night to urinate
- Waking up with a dry mouth or headache
- Experiencing changes in mood or ability to concentrate and pay attention
- Having a decreased libido
- Thick and short, or long and thin neck size
- Obesity
Why can sleep apnea be dangerous?
Sleep apnea can be serious because of the body’s sleep deprivation and being deprived of oxygen. In addition, sleep apnea can raise his or her risk of developing the following chronic health issues:
- Asthma
- Atrial fibrillation
- Certain types of cancers
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Pregnancy complications
Treat Sleep Apnea Naturally: Why a Natural, Holistic Approach Is Best
Why should you be concerned about how to treat sleep apnea naturally? It’s because your health is involved.
Sleep apnea isn’t just about snoring. It isn’t just about the symptoms you put up with when you don’t get enough restful sleep because you aren’t sleeping soundly each night.
Obstructive sleep apnea can kill. Not only can patients with this condition completely stop breathing – they can end up with a higher risk for heart disease, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and more.
Getting enough air into your lungs each night is definitely one of the goals all healthcare professionals have for you, including the team at your West Kelowna dentist office.
However, I want to make sure that what you’re doing to treat your sleep apnea is going to target the root cause of the issue, not simply cover up the symptoms.
Are You Ready to Try a New Approach to Treating Your Sleep Apnea?
If you’ve tried the traditional approach to treating sleep apnea and it hasn’t worked – you have options! When you visit my West Kelowna dentist office, my team and I will find the best option for your needs. I’ll do a thorough examination to determine what’s really contributing to your sleep apnea symptoms and determine the best way to treat the situation.
Stop trying to use a machine that’s not working. Let’s work together to find the best physiologic solution to your sleep apnea so you can start getting a great night’s sleep as soon as possible.
Are you interested in learning more about my holistic approach to sleep apnea? Contact my office today and schedule a consultation to discuss your questions, needs, and concerns.
