Sleep is a fundamental part of overall good health. It allows you to rest and recharge, so you’re ready to tackle your daily responsibilities. When you don’t get the sleep you need, you can’t function normally. It can significantly disrupt your daily routine and impact your quality of life.
At Silent Night Therapy, we understand the challenges you face when you’re not getting the quality sleep you need. A sleep disorder could be the culprit. However, you need an accurate diagnosis to determine what treatment options are available to manage your symptoms and improve your sleeping habits.
You should not continue to suffer from the effects of your sleeping disorder. If you have sleep apnea, you should seek the care you need. Silent Night Therapy and our team of sleep apnea therapy specialists in Amityville, NY, are ready to discuss your symptoms with you, evaluate your condition, and determine what we can do to help.
The journey to a better night’s sleep is just a phone call away. Contact us for a complimentary consultation today by calling 631-983-2463 or completing our online contact form.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that causes a person to stop and start breathing repeatedly while they sleep. Loud snoring and daytime sleepiness are often the symptoms experienced with sleep apnea.
There are three types of sleep apnea. They are:
- Central sleep apnea – Central sleep apnea happens when the brain doesn’t send the necessary signals to the muscles that control a person’s breathing.
- Obstructive sleep apnea – Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea diagnosed. It occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax, causing the tongue and soft tissue to obstruct the airway, preventing a person from breathing normally.
- Complex sleep apnea – Complex sleep apnea is a combination of central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.
There are some symptoms you might notice yourself. However, others occur while you sleep, making it impossible to discover any signs that you might have sleep apnea unless your partner notices them.
The most common symptoms of sleep apnea you should watch for include:
- Gasping for air while sleeping
- Loud snoring
- Irritability
- Trouble paying attention when awake
- Waking up with a dry mouth or throat
- Episodes of repeated stopped breathing
- Excessive sleepiness during the day
- Difficulty staying asleep at night
- Morning headaches
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should reach out to Silent Night Therapy to learn more about sleep apnea therapy in Amityville. Treatment with one of our professionals might be your best option to manage your symptoms and reduce the occurrence of sleep apnea episodes.
Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea
Some people are more susceptible to sleep apnea than others. The most common factors that can increase your risk of developing sleep apnea include:
- Male – If you’re a male, you are two to three times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea than a woman.
- Obesity – Carrying excess weight, especially in the neck, can place pressure on the airways and prevent a person from breathing properly.
- Smoking – Smoking causes inflammation in the upper airway, leading to obstructive sleep apnea.
- Narrow airway – Genetics can play a part in the structure of your throat. If you have a narrow airway, it compromises airflow.
- Alcohol use – Drinking alcohol regularly relaxes the throat muscles. When that happens, it exacerbates the symptoms of sleep apnea.
- Older age – Older adults experience sleep apnea episodes more frequently than teenagers and young adults.
Complications of Sleep Apnea
Fatigue and breathing problems aren’t the only issues you need to worry about with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can lead to a range of health problems, such as:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Weight gain
- Type 2 diabetes
- Adult asthma
- Metabolic syndrome
- Acid reflux
- Stroke
- Memory loss
- Depression and anxiety
- Liver scarring
Some studies have even shown a link between sleep apnea and a shorter lifespan.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
The available treatment options depend on the type of sleep apnea you have. Your doctor will need to perform a complete examination, review your medical history, and determine the best course of action to get your sleep apnea under control.
At Silent Night Therapy, we specialize in oral appliance therapy. Our team can provide the custom appliance you need to relieve your symptoms, so you can sleep better and improve your overall quality of life.
We offer four main types of oral appliances:
- Dynaflex Dorsal – The dorsal appliance is one of the most popular devices to treat obstructive sleep apnea and reduce snoring. It is made up of two pieces, so it’s comfortable to wear and allows wearers to move their jaws laterally. The hardware also keeps the mandible, lower jaw in a specific position while sleeping.
- Respite Blue+ – We can customize this oral appliance to fit your mouth for comfort and movement. A dual block design and interlocking wings allow the wearer to sleep in any position while keeping their airways open so breathing is easier.
- The EMA – The Elastic Mandibular Advancement (EMA) is the smallest appliance we offer to our patients. Two individual trays stay together using a strap that can vary in length and flexibility. The trays also contain 2mm vacuum form material for comfort and lateral movement.
- The Adjustable Herbst – The two-piece Adjustable Herbst contains hinged mechanisms on the lower and upper faces of the appliance that are inseparable. Advancement screws on the hinged mechanisms allow advancement of the mandible as well as titration.
Silent Night Therapy will work hard to find the Amityville sleep apnea therapy solution that works so you can sleep soundly and function better at your job, with your family, and while tending to other responsibilities.
Contact Silent Night Therapy Today
At Silent Night Therapy, we are passionate about helping our patients improve their sleep quality with the necessary treatments. You might have tried natural remedies to manage your symptoms for a better night’s rest but haven’t been successful. Sleep apnea therapy could be the remedy you’ve needed all along.
If you suffer from symptoms of sleep apnea, call us at 631-983-2463 immediately to discuss the Amityville sleep apnea therapy that’s right for you.
We will be happy to meet with you for a complimentary consultation to diagnose your symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan for a higher quality of sleep.