Sleep Apnea Treatment Keeps West Monroe Calm
Do You Have Sleep Apnea?
- Are you forgetful and tired during the day?
- Do you snore or wake up gasping for air?
- Have you ever fallen asleep at the wrong time?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may suffer with snoring and/or sleep apnea. Snoring occurs when air passes by oversized or relaxed soft tissues on its way to and from the lungs. Not all snorers have sleep apnea, but many sleep apnea patients snore. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, occurs when breathing stops for 10 seconds or longer, repeatedly during a sleep session. Snoring and sleep can interfere with good sleep, but sleep apnea poses greater problems. Sleep apnea patients face a 30% greater risk of heart attack. Proper diagnosis of sleep apnea requires a formal sleep study. If you show symptoms, Dr. Scott can refer you to a trusted sleep lab for diagnosis.
Snoreguards
Whether you snore or have sleep apnea, a simple oral appliance called a snoreguard may solve your problems. Snoreguards are custom-made mouthpieces that hold the mouth into a position so that soft tissues cannot block airflow. Dr. Scott has treated snoring and sleep apnea since 1989. He currently prescribes SomnoMed and the TAP III appliance most often. Simply wear your snoreguard while you sleep, and you may immediately begin to enjoy the deep, satisfying rest you’ve missed. As your trusted family dentist, Dr. Scott wants to give you a high quality of life and a reason to smile.