09 Nov Signs You Need a New Sleep Apnea Treatment Plan
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has long been considered the gold standard in treating sleep apnea. And for people with moderate to severe sleep apnea, CPAP is often preferable. But if you’re having trouble with CPAP treatment or it isn’t controlling your disorder well enough, it might be time to consider making a change. Visit a dentist to discuss your options.
You’re still snoring.
Snoring is one of the main signs of sleep apnea. If your sleep apnea treatment is working, you should no longer be snoring. If you have a sleep partner, ask him or her whether you still snore. You can also ask your partner to be on the lookout for other red flags, like gasping for air, making choking sounds, or coughing during sleep. If you don’t have a sleep partner, check your CPAP device for an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) digital readout. This is a measurement of the number of sleeping disturbances you experienced per hour.
You’re experiencing daytime symptoms.
The most obvious signs of sleep apnea occur while you’re asleep, but there are a few more subtle symptoms that can occur during the daytime. You might be feeling excessively tired during the day, even if you got to bed at the same time as usual. Or, you may experience problems concentrating on your work. Irritability and headaches in the morning may also indicate that your sleep apnea isn’t well controlled.
You’ve been diagnosed with new medical problems.
When sleep apnea is left untreated or isn’t properly controlled, it may increase the risk of health complications. These complications may include:
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Coronary artery disease
The Tucson dentistry office of John Carson, DDS offers comprehensive radiology services that allow us to visualize the airway and jaws to develop a better informed treatment plan. The dentist may recommend an oral appliance. Call (520) 514-7203.