Partner can’t sleep because you snore? Snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, a treatable condition at the Mt. Vernon Center for Dentistry in Alexandria.
Snoring can result when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses onto the soft palate. This constricts the air flow. As you breathe, this area opens and closes—with a noisy result.
With Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the air passageway not only narrows, you actually stop breathing. These pauses can last for up to a minute and recur hundreds of time each night.
Many men and women with sleep apnea snore, but not all snorers have sleep apnea. Regular snoring does not generally wake you up during the night (though it may wake your partner up again and again).
Is My Snoring a Symptom of Sleep Apnea?
- Do you wake up several times during the night gasping?
- Are you excessively tired during the day?
- Do you wake up with a headache?
- Do you easily doze off during the day?
- Are your mouth and throat noticeably dry when you wake up?
Snoring is more than a pesky annoyance. It can have significant health consequences. Sleep apnea is even more serious, because it completely cuts off the oxygen flow.
There are three types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This is the most common type. It is caused by throat muscles relaxing and blocking the airway.
- Central Sleep Apnea: The cause of the breathing cessation arises in the central nervous system. The brain fails to control the breathing muscles.
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (Treatment-emergent Central Sleep Apnea): This condition is present when a person has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
At the Mt. Vernon Center for Dentistry in Alexandria, we offer sleep apnea treatment that can help you sleep and breathe at night. We also have a full range of family dentistry services. Call us to schedule an appointment today!
Contact Mt. Vernon Center For Dentistry:
703-360-5881
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
8101 Hinson Farm Rd Ste 114
Alexandria, Virginia
22306
