Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which the sufferer repeatedly stops breathing throughout the night. Whether you have obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea, this can lead to a variety of serious health consequences. In fact, sleep apnea dramatically increases your probability of developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Continue reading to learn more about the relationship between sleep apnea and cardiovascular health and what you can do.
What Is the Link between Sleep Apnea & Heart Disease?
When breathing stops during sleep, it causes an increase in blood pressure and decrease in blood oxygen levels. The brain is then alerted and sends a message throughout the nervous system telling blood vessels to constrict to increase the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain. The real problem is that this continues to happen throughout the day, even if you are breathing normally.
How to Improve the Quality of Your Sleep and Protect Your Heart
It is important to put a stop to this cycle of high blood pressure and low oxygen levels. That’s why it is so important to seek a diagnosis and treatment for sleep apnea. Evidence has shown that using an oral appliance at night for sleep apnea helps to lower blood pressure at night and during the day.
How Does Sleep Apnea Treatment Work?
To get treatment for sleep apnea, the first step is to confirm that this is what’s causing your symptoms. You will need to schedule an appointment to get started. CPAP therapy is the most common solution. This consists of wearing a mask that covers the nose and/or mouth during sleep. The mask is connected to a machine that maintains a steady flow of air, keeping the airway open. This is an effective option for many people, but some find it uncomfortable, so they are less likely to comply with the treatment.
An alternative option for treating sleep apnea is oral appliance therapy. This is ideal for those who have mild to moderate sleep apnea. With this treatment, a special nightguard is customized for your mouth. It is worn at night and works by shifting your jaw into proper position, so you are likely to encounter obstructions and breathing cessations during sleep.
Sleep apnea can make it challenging to get quality sleep and take a toll on your heart health. By seeing your dentist and seeking treatment, you can set your heart up for success.
About the Practice
At Dental Partners of Newburyport, Dr. J. Peter St. Clair, Dr. E. Charles Beliveau, and Dr. T. Andenmatten work together to treat patients in the Newburyport area. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. To learn more about sleep apnea treatment or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (978) 465-5358.