How your doctor in Arlington, TX, can help you get relief from sleep apnea.
Have you been told you snore every night? If so, it could be due to sleep apnea, a medical condition with potentially serious consequences. There is help for your snoring, and treatment if you have sleep apnea.
Dr. Atif Sohail at Heart & Sleep Clinics Of America in Arlington, TX, offers a wide range of medical services, including diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is caused by the tissue at the back of your throat relaxing while you sleep. The relaxed tissue can partially or completely block your airway, resulting in low oxygen supply to your vital organs, including your heart and brain.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to:
- Developing heart disease
- Having a stroke
- Becoming diabetic
- Developing memory problems
- Chronic high blood pressure
So, how can you tell sleep apnea from just normal snoring? These are some of the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea you need to pay attention to:
- Frequent, loud snoring
- Having a headache when you first wake up
- Having a dry sore throat when you wake up
- Suddenly waking up gasping or choking
- Feeling groggy or sleepy during the daytime
- Having difficulty concentrating and focusing
The first step in sleep apnea treatment is having a sleep study. It’s a simple way to determine if you have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.
Once a diagnosis of sleep apnea is made, your doctor may recommend these options to help you sleep better at night:
Wearing a CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) machine; this device provides a steady stream of oxygen throughout the night, which you breathe in by wearing a face mask.
Wearing an Oral Mandibular Advancement Appliance; this is a small dental appliance you wear in your mouth. It holds your lower jaw forward, keeping your airway open while you sleep.
Don’t let sleep apnea shorten your life. Seek out treatment to help protect your health. To find out more about the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea, talk with an expert. Call Dr. Atif Sohail at Heart & Sleep Clinics Of America in Arlington, TX. You can reach him in the office by calling (817) 419-7220, so call now.