Sometimes snoring is simply a sign that you are a bit blocked, perhaps due to a cold, but if it is loud and persistent and is interfering with the quality of your sleep then it could be a symptom of sleep apnoea. This is a common sleep disorder that can cause breathing to stop and re-start, often hundreds of times a night as the airway becomes blocked due to the throat muscles relaxing and collapsing inwards.
Teeth for Life
Although sleep apnoea is treatable, it frequently goes undiagnosed, but it can have a serious impact on health. If you would like to know more, please feel free to call us on (03) 9435 2966. Our practice is located at 17 Grimshaw Street, Greensborough, Victoria, 3088, Australia .
What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnoea?
Are Some People More at Risk of Sleep Apnoea?
What Are the Treatments for Sleep Apnoea?
What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnoea?
Symptoms include:
- Frequent pauses in breathing during sleep which are often broken by a loud gasping or choking sound
- Feeling tired when you wake up
- Waking up with a headache or feeling irritable or depressed
- Having a dry mouth or sore throat when you awaken
- Frequently waking up to urinate
It can be difficult to recognise some of these symptoms on your own, so it is worth asking a sleeping partner to observe you while you sleep, or you could try recording yourself.
Your next step should be to visit Banyule Dental Greensborough for a proper diagnosis, and if necessary our dentist can recommend you to a sleep clinic for a sleep study.
Are Some People More at Risk of Sleep Apnoea?
Yes, there are certain risk factors which include:
- Being overweight
- Being male
- Having a close relation with sleep apnoea
- Being over the age of 65
- Smoking
- Having a larger neck size
What Are the Treatments for Sleep Apnoea?
Mild to moderate sleep apnoea can be treated with a dental device that helps to hold open the airway during sleep.
You may also be recommended to use a Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure machine (CPAP) that uses a mask to supply a constant flow of air, keeping your airway open during sleep.