Have you been told that you snore or wake up feeling less than rested in the morning? These are two of the most common signs of a sleep disorder or sleep apnea, also known as obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. But there are also other related signs and symptoms that many patients struggle with for years before getting the right diagnosis and treatment for a sleep disorder. Take a look at the list below, and if you feel that you may have a sleep disorder that is impacting your overall health and quality of life, we welcome you to schedule a visit with Dr. Rosado and begin your journey to better health.
The quality of your nightly rest plays a very important role in your overall health and wellness. Sleep apnea and other sleep-related disorders can deprive you of restful, quality sleep and leave you feeling tired in the morning- not a good way to start your day. Dr. Rosado offers treatment for sleep apnea and works with our patients to screen for the oral signs of sleep apnea. Addressing sleep apnea or snoring is important for your health and ability to enjoy your best quality of life. Sleep apnea can put you at risk for cardiovascular disease and hypertension and can aggravate symptoms in existing diseases or conditions.
What Are the Signs of Sleep Apnea?
There are identifiable symptoms and risk factors for sleep apnea, but it is also important to mention any concerns you have about the quality of your sleep or if you snore. Key symptoms can include:
- Loud snoring or waking up gasping for breath
- Waking up still feeling tired or groggy
- Feeling irritable or having difficulty concentrating during the day
- Persistent dry mouth or scratchy throat in the morning
It is also important to be aware of common risk factors for sleep apnea, although it can affect anyone. If you are overweight, have a larger neck circumference, male, or over the age of 45 you can be at an increased risk for sleep disorders and sleep apnea. Smokers and patients with a family history of sleep problems should also consider themselves at risk and pay attention to sleep quality. Dr. Rosado will screen for the common oral signs of sleep apnea during your visit, checking your airway and surrounding tissues. He will also ask about your overall health and quality of rest each night. If you have concerns about your sleep or have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, we can work with you to determine if our oral appliance therapy can offer a solution.
Treating Sleep Apnea: oral appliance therapy
Dr. Rosado offers an alternative to the CPAP for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea symptoms or those who are intolerant of the CPAP.
Oral appliance therapy is the use of a custom appliance that is designed to support improved airway function. Fitted much like a custom mouthguard, your sleep appliance will position the jaw and tongue to minimize the collapse of soft tissue into the airway. You can breathe more easily and naturally while asleep. Oral appliance therapy supports improved overall health and reduces snoring or repeated “apneas” during the night where your breathing stops. Dr. Rosado uses oral appliances from various top ranked dental laboratories and will work with you to determine which is best suited to your needs. These oral appliances are customized to your mouth by taking digital dental impressions that are sent to these labs for fabricating your appliance. Dr. Rosado will use our screening questionnaire to further evaluate your needs and related health concerns.