Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Learn What Signs to Watch Out For

With sleep apnea, the obstacle keeping patients from the full night of sleep they deserve is breathing cessation and interrupted sleep. Sleep apnea patients can stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer, causing the brain to send out a signal waking them up so they can breathe.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Daytime drowsiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory loss
• Mood changes
• Accidents at home, at work, or behind the wheel

Another common symptom is snoring. We’ve all seen snoring used for comedic effect in movies and TV shows, but snoring is one of the most obvious indicators of sleep apnea. That’s because both are caused by obstruction from the tongue and lower jaw. As air struggles to squeeze through to the lungs, vibrations are created, resulting in the familiar sound of snoring. Sometimes, though, air is prevented from passing through all together.

Not every patient with sleep apnea knows they’re struggling. Instead of waking up completely to breathe, some patients will only move to a lighter stage of sleep. That’s why snoring, or any of these other symptoms, shouldn’t be ignored. If left untreated, sleep apnea is potentially fatal.

Thankfully, Dr. Roy at 21st Century Dental of Irving can provide patients from Irving, Las Colinas, Dallas, and surrounding areas with an array of treatment options. One traditional option is treatment with CPAP – but this option isn’t for everyone. That’s why Dr. Roy also offers oral appliance therapy. This effective treatment option uses a custom-made oral device to reposition the tongue and lower jaw, ensuring that important airways remain open and clear. As a result, our Irving-area patients can breathe easily at night instead of waking up exhausted.