People with sleep apnea tend to stop breathing temporarily during sleep. If you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), your breathing may stop due to blocked airways. If you have central sleep apnea, your breathing may stop due to a malfunction in your brain. Lack of air can cause you to wake up suddenly several times during the night gasping for air. Dealing with sleep apnea can be difficult on your own. Working with experienced sleep apnea dentists from Kellerman Dental in Glen Carbon, Illinois, is the best way to resolve sleep apnea issues. 

Common Causes of Sleep Apnea, Symptoms and Treatment 

The first step to resolving sleep apnea issues is diagnosing your condition. Drs. Kevin Kellerman and Caroline Connolly can help in this area. We’ll review your symptoms to see if they coincide with those caused by sleep apnea, i.e., waking up frequently at night with shortness of breath, abnormal breathing patterns, loud snoring, waking up exhausted in the morning, constant sleepiness during the day, and mood changes. 

Many people who suffer from sleep apnea have OSA. OSA episodes occur when your neck and head muscles relax during sleep, causing soft tissues to press down on your windpipe and obstruct airflow. Here are factors contributing to OSA and ways to manage its symptoms.

• Excess weight: Obesity makes you more prone to developing sleep apnea as fat deposits surrounding your airways can hinder breathing. Losing weight can help minimize OSA symptoms.
• Narrow airways: People born with narrow throat passageways are likelier to suffer from OSA symptoms. To compensate, you can alter your sleeping position to help improve your breathing. As it’s harder to breathe when sleeping on your back, you can use support pillows to keep you on your side where you can breathe easier.   
• Alcohol and medications: Alcohol, sedatives, and other medications cause your throat muscles to relax, which can aggravate sleep apnea symptoms. Cutting back on sedatives and alcohol before bedtime can help reduce sleep apnea episodes and improve the quality of your sleep.
• Smoking: Smokers are at higher risk of suffering from sleep apnea symptoms. If you value your sleep, the solution is to quit!  
• Nasal congestion: Congested nasal passages can lead to OSA as this problem obstructs breathing. Using nasal sprays or strips to open your nasal passages can help improve breathing and minimize snoring.

CPAP machines and oral appliances are additional treatments that have been highly effective in managing sleep apnea symptoms. CPAP machines push air pressure into your windpipe to keep it open while you sleep so you can breathe more easily. The air travels through a hose connected to a mask worn over your nose and mouth. Oral appliances are dental devices worn during sleep to keep soft tissues from obstructing your airways so you can breathe easier.

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Treatment Near Me

For help dealing with sleep apnea symptoms, contact Dr. Kevin Kellerman or Dr. Caroline Connolly from Kellerman Dental in Glen Carbon, IL, at (618) 228-3100.

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