Did you know that approximately 18 million Americans are at risk for major health problems due to a disorder that interrupts quality sleep? If you snore or feel tired throughout the day, Chicago dentist Dr. Ira L. Shapira can evaluate you for sleep apnea.
Our qualified sleep apnea dentist can recommend custom treatment options that fit your lifestyle and encourage holistic health. Please call North Shore Sleep Dentistry today at (847) 533-8313 to schedule an appointment. Dr. Shapira serves patients throughout the Chicago metro area.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Patients who have sleep apnea stop breathing for periods of time during sleep. When this happens, the flow of oxygen to the brain and other parts of the body stops and the patient moves back and forth between shallow and deep sleep.
These interruptions to healthy breathing during sleep can happen hundreds of times a night, and some patients can go up to a minute without drawing a breath.
There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common and occurs when the airway is partially blocked because the tongue, tonsils, or other tissue collapses and inhibits the proper flow of breath. Central sleep apnea is rare and results from a flaw in the central nervous system where the brain doesn’t tell the body to breathe during sleep.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Though the two aren’t always related, the vast majority of obstructive sleep apnea patients snore loudly at night. Spouses and even people in other rooms often can’t sleep because the snoring is so loud.
Daytime fatigue, even after six to eight hours of sleep, is also a very common symptom of sleep apnea. Others include:
- Severe headaches in the morning (also a possible complication of TMJ disorder)
- Memory problems
- Trouble concentrating
- Unexplained weight gain, and difficulty losing it
- Mood swings, including severe anxiety and depression
- Poor performance at work or school
As troubling as all of these symptoms are, sleep apnea is dangerous because it increases the risk of many major health problems, such as:
- Insomnia
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease and heart attack
- Stroke
In rare cases, sleep apnea itself can result in the death of the patient due to sudden respiratory failure during sleep.
Do You Suffer From Sleep Apnea?
Now that you know the risks of sleep apnea, what can you do to protect your health? If you feel tired most days or a spouse or roommate complains about your snoring, the first step is undergoing a sleep study to determine whether or not you suffer from apnea. Dr. Shapira can recommend a number of sleep labs in Cook and Lake counties to evaluate your rest.
Dr. Shapira can then assess the results of your study. If you are suffering from this disorder, he can recommend appropriate sleep apnea treatment options.
To learn more about sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, please contact North Shore Sleep Dentistry or call (847) 533-8313 today. Dr. Shapira welcomes patients from Highland Park, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Deerfield, and other communities in and around Chicago.
