Sleep apnea can cause a range of problems in your daily life. One of the most notable is daytime fatigue. 

Daytime fatigue can pose a real danger whenever you’re in a situation that requires constant attention. For many people, dozing off while driving is a prime example, but there are many situations where nodding off could lead to serious safety risks.

Sleep apnea is a common condition that often goes undiagnosed, and it could be the primary factor behind your daytime fatigue. Here is what you need to know about this condition and what you can do to treat it.

Understanding Sleep Apnea

Exactly what is sleep apnea? There are two primary types: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive is the more common of the two and has to do with the airway. Central sleep apnea, on the other hand, is related to the nerves that control breathing.

In obstructive sleep apnea, the throat muscles relax during sleep and lead to the airway closing. When this happens, you’ll stop breathing momentarily and jolt awake suddenly. In many cases, you’ll go right back to sleep without remembering the event. This can happen multiple times throughout the night, seriously impacting your sleep quality.

Snoring is among the most common signs of sleep apnea. Why do people snore? The partial closure of the airway can lead to vibrations that cause the familiar sound of snoring. Many people first become aware of this condition because they search “how to stop snoring” to try to find snoring remedies.

Sleep apnea is also closely linked with mouth breathing. You may develop dry mouth as a result, where you wake up with your mouth feeling dry. Not only is this condition unpleasant, but it can also lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Reduced saliva production allows the bacteria responsible for those conditions to thrive.

Other serious health concerns are linked to this condition. For example, the sudden loss of bloodstream oxygen can cause your heart to beat faster and increase blood pressure as a result. Over time, this can increase your risk of developing serious heart conditions.

The link between sleep apnea and daytime drowsiness.

It isn’t hard to see the connection between this condition and daytime drowsiness. Even if you don’t remember episodes, you’re constantly waking up throughout the night. These events take their toll, especially because they stop you from reaching the most beneficial stages of the sleep cycle.

When you have this condition, you may wake up feeling tired or even having a morning headache. That feeling of fatigue can worsen throughout the day, causing your performance at work, school, or in other areas of your life to suffer. Your sleep apnea and snoring may also have an impact on your partner and affect their sleep.

Not being productive at work is just the start of the problems that daytime fatigue can cause. When it comes to driving, reduced reaction time and even briefly nodding off are both risks that increase your chance of a serious accident. If you work in any role using dangerous equipment, you’re also constantly at risk throughout the day.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

One of the biggest challenges related to sleep apnea is that most people aren’t aware they have it. They write off any fatigue as caused by other factors instead of getting the treatment for this condition that they need. If you’re dealing with daytime fatigue, snoring, dry mouth, or other symptoms, it may be worth speaking to a specialist.

You can talk to your dentist to get started if you need a trusted medical professional to talk to. They will ask you some questions to determine whether sleep apnea is a likely cause. You may be referred to a sleep specialist to carry out a sleep study to get an actual diagnosis.

Once diagnosed, there are a variety of potential treatment options. In some cases, lifestyle changes can be highly effective. Sleeping position, diet, exercise, and other factors can all contribute to sleep apnea.

In mild-to-moderate cases, a nightguard can be an effective treatment option. These are dental devices that are similar to sports mouth guards. They are worn during sleep and hold your jaw in a certain position so that the throat muscles don’t relax and close the airway.

In more serious cases, you may require a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. With these machines, a mask worn over the nose provides continuous airflow to prevent the airway from closing.

Take action on sleep apnea treatment today.

It’s important to take your sleep apnea symptoms seriously and consult healthcare professionals for solutions. Getting the sleep apnea treatment you need can help you enjoy better sleep, avoid fatigue throughout the day, and achieve a variety of additional health benefits. If you’re facing any sleep apnea symptoms in New York, consider taking advantage of sleep dentistry with Dental Care Associates of Buffalo. Take our sleep apnea assessment quiz to gauge your risk and reach out for a consultation today.