Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Fort Collins, CO Dentist » Sleep Apnea Symptoms
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Spotting sleep apnea can be tricky, but knowing about its symptoms can help you notice it in yourself or in loved ones. Dentists, doctors, and sleep tests can also help you determine if you have sleep apnea, even if you don’t notice symptoms.

If you are noticing sleep apnea symptoms or want to learn more about your sleep health, Sleep Better Fort Collins is here for you. Reach out to us for effective education and solutions!

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

There are many sleep apnea symptoms to look out for. Here are some symptoms that could indicate you have sleep apnea:

  • Dry Mouth | Gasping and mouth breathing can lead to dry mouth in the morning, which has its own oral health risks.
  • Morning Headaches | Since your body struggles to get air to your brain, it can cause headaches, just like when you hold your breath for a long time.
  • Consistent Sleepiness | Sleep apnea causes poor sleep or less sleep, leading to sleepiness throughout the day.
  • Sore Throat | As your body struggles to breathe, it can cause a sore throat or scratchiness in the mornings.
  • Irritability or Difficulty Focusing | Lack of sleep from sleep apnea can lead to irritability, issues with attention, and other significant mood changes.
  • Snoring | Snoring can indicate that you have a narrowed airway that may cause sleep apnea
  • Gasping or Choking | If you can be heard gasping or choking in your sleep, that is a strong sign of sleep apnea.
  • Waking Up Often | While sleep apnea often wakes you up without you regaining consciousness, you may find yourself waking up throughout the night.

Having one of these is still a concern, but it may indicate a different dental or airway-related issue. Having two or more of these can indicate a definite sleep apnea issue. 

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

The main cause of sleep apnea is a narrowed or softened airway that collapses when you sleep. However, the causes of sleep apnea can vary. Lifestyle factors contribute to the issues of sleep apnea as well.

  • Excess Weight | Extra weight or more fat around the neck collapses your airway as you sleep, contributing to or even causing sleep apnea.
  • Bite Malocclusions | These are when your jaw is too far forward or too far back, which can close up your airway significantly. Orthodontics can help align your bite.
  • Airway Size | This risk is genetically decided, and some people may simply have smaller airways than others. That means that sleep apnea can be hereditary. If you have a family history, make sure to get consistently evaluated for sleep apnea.
  • Age | As you age, your airway can soften, causing collapse even if your lifestyle is healthy.
  • Inflamed Tonsils or Oral Inflammation | These health problems contribute by making your airway area smaller. This can be caused by a cold, oral infections like periodontal disease or tonsillitis, among other issues.

Lifestyle Factors for Sleep Apnea

Your lifestyle decisions can contribute to, or even be the main source of, some causes of sleep apnea. While sometimes sleep apnea is genetic, improving your lifestyle can alleviate many of the concerns and risks that come with sleep apnea.

  • Physical Health | Poor physical health, especially poor cardiovascular health, often contributes to sleep apnea, as well as excess weight. Some of this may be because our patient does not exercise regularly. Including regular exercise can help with weight management and help your heart and lungs be healthy.
  • Smoking or Alcohol | Habits such as smoking or high amounts of alcohol consumption also contribute. Alcohol relaxes your airway muscles, leading to a higher chance of collapse. Smoking compromises your airway health in many ways. Along with these poor habits, a poor diet can contribute to weight gain and, therefore, sleep apnea.
  • Sleep Position | While we know that some people have a specific way they like to sleep, sleeping on your back can worsen sleep apnea, especially if you are already predisposed to this. Position therapy is when we suggest different sleeping positions for you to test to see which improves your sleep.

When you come in for sleep apnea treatment, we may suggest lifestyle alterations to improve your sleep and your overall life! Sleep apnea treatment isn’t just about improving your sleep, but improving your life!

Worried You Have Sleep Apnea? Worry No Longer

If you are reading over the causes of sleep apnea or sleep apnea symptoms and realize they sound like things you are struggling with, Sleep Better Fort Collins has convenient solutions for you. Call today to learn more about how we can help.