Sleep apnea is a common and serious sleep condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts when you sleep. The interruptions can take a few seconds to one minute and can occur several times per night. This can affect normal sleep and reduce oxygen levels in the body. The common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the muscles in the throat relax too much. As a result, the airway will be blocked temporarily. Central Sleep Apnea is another condition whereby the brain does not send the right signals to the muscles responsible for controlling breathing.

Signs Of Sleep Apnea In Adults

Many people associate sleep apnea with loud snoring and heavy breathing during sleep. These can be contributing factors. Usually, the main cause of loud snoring is a blockage in a person’s airway to the trachea. This occurs when the mandibular muscles collapse, closing the airway via which air goes to the patient’s lungs. As a result, breathing can stop for a minute without knowing it. When you stop breathing, neurons are prevented from transmitting signals to the brain, so the body can't continue working normally. Some neurological functions can lag when you start breathing, causing you to lack quality sleep.

You could experience several side effects due to poor sleep quality. In many situations, you will be unable to relate the symptoms brought about by lack of quality sleep to the sleep apnea condition. This is often the case when they have not been properly diagnosed. The following are the common signs of sleep apnea:

Unrefreshing Sleep

You could feel unrested and tired even after seven to nine hours of sleep. This is a common sign because the quality and quantity of sleep are affected. A doctor can diagnose unrefreshing sleep by examining your sleep habits, medical record, mental health, and possible sleep disorders. Treatment for unrefreshing sleep includes:

  • Adjusting medications if necessary
  • Managing stress or mental health
  • Treating underlying conditions, and
  • Improving sleep hygiene

Night Sweats

You can experience excessive sweating when waking up because of the body’s stress response during breathing interruptions. Obstructive Sleep Apnea often occurs when the airway repeatedly collapses during sleep. As a result, you can experience the following:

  • Surges of stress hormones like adrenaline
  • Sudden stress responses from the brain that you cannot recall
  • Repeated drops in oxygen levels

Repeated stress reactions can cause restless sleep, waking up feeling drenched or hot, and excessive sweating at night.

Sexual Dysfunction or Lower Libido

Low oxygen levels and poor sleep can affect hormone levels. Most men experience erectile dysfunction, but both men and women can experience reduced interest in sex. Obstructive Sleep Apnea causes frequent pauses in breathing during sleep. This can affect sexual health in many indirect ways. Most testosterone production often occurs during deep sleep. Sleep apnea disrupts sleep and reduces deep sleep stages. This lowers the levels of testosterone, which can reduce libido in both males and females.

Poor sleep quality also causes fatigue, low motivation, and daytime sleepiness. Sexual interest and performance will automatically decrease if you are tired. Sleep apnea increases stress hormones like cortisol. It is also associated with depression, anxiety, and irritability, all of which can affect the levels of libido.

Good blood flow is vital for sexual arousal and function. A frequent drop in oxygen during sleep can affect cardiovascular health. Reduced exercise, weight gain, and metabolic changes associated with sleep apnea can also cause sexual dysfunction. Sleep apnea can be treated using CPAP therapy, weight management, and other medical interventions. This can improve sleep quality, which, over time, can increase testosterone levels. It can also improve libido and energy in a patient.

High Blood Pressure

Sleep apnea is commonly associated with high blood pressure. Repeated drops in oxygen can stress the cardiovascular system. This can make it hard to control blood pressure even with medication.

Restless Sleep or Insomnia

Some people often struggle to stay asleep. They can wake up frequently without understanding the problem.

Loud and Persistent Snoring

This is a common form of obstructive sleep

apnea. It is characterized by very loud snoring and is interrupted by pauses or choking sounds. However, not all snoring means that you have sleep apnea, but snoring with pauses is a red flag.

Breathing Pauses

You will experience breathing stops for several seconds to one minute. Choking sounds, snorting, or gasping follow it.

Mood Swings

Insufficient rest can leave you highly irritable and cranky during the day. Various situations cause some of these reactions; you should take them seriously when you experience a recurrent trend. You can also experience mood swings when you are alone to the extent of feeling annoyed. It can be a red flag of sleep apnea if you often wake up feeling tired.

Bipolar Disorder

You should consult a psychologist to address the issue if you exhibit bipolar behavior. It is also good to share with your doctor the trends you have noticed as you undergo treatment for bipolar disorder. Share with your doctor, particularly regarding the deterioration of your mood throughout the day. The doctor will take you through various tests once he/she gets such information. He/she will conduct tests to identify the causes of these neurological patterns, including sleep apnea screening.

Depression

Most people suffering from sleep apnea feel depressed because of the interference with their mental health. High irritability and constant change of moods can also have negative neurological effects related to a person’s depression. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience these feelings of looming.

Large Neck Circumference

Your airway can narrow due to a thicker neck. This is common in men.

Weight Gain or Difficulty Losing Weight

Sleep disruption will affect hormones like Ghrelin and Leptin.

Dry Mouth or Sore Throat In The Morning

Dry mouth is caused by mouth breathing during sleep.

Brain Fog or Difficulty Concentrating

Sleep apnea causes trouble remembering things or focusing. It can also cause reduced productivity and mental clarity. Sleep apnea frequently interrupts a patient’s breathing during sleep. These interruptions fragment a patient’s sleep and reduce oxygen levels in the brain. This can lead to poor-quality, non-restorative sleep. It can also cause daytime mental sluggishness. A person with brain fog will report the following signs:

  • Feeling mentally cloudy or unfocused
  • Slower thinking or reaction time
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Forgetfulness, and
  • Hard to concentrate on tasks

Morning Headaches

Sleep apnea is often associated with morning headaches. They are usually dull and occur when you are waking up. This is caused by poor sleep quality or low oxygen. Breathing can stop temporarily or become very shallow during apnea episodes. This can increase carbon dioxide levels and lower oxygen in the patient’s blood. As a result, blood vessels in the brain dilate, causing headaches when you wake up.

You will wake up frequently without realizing it if you have sleep apnea. This frequent disruption prevents deep, restorative sleep, which can cause tension-type headaches in the morning.

Changes in carbon dioxide and oxygen can slightly increase pressure inside the head overnight. This will result in a dull, heavy-headed feeling after waking up.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness

Sleep apnea is also associated with excessive daytime sleepiness. You will feel very tired even after spending a whole night in bed. A patient will fall asleep during conversations, while watching TV, or in class or at work.

Breathing repeatedly stops and begins during sleep. These interruptions can occur several times per night. Each pause in breathing shortly wakes the brain,n often without a patient realizing. This breaks up deep, restorative sleep. It also reduces oxygen levels in the body and prevents proper sleep cycles, particularly REM sleep.

Sometimes, you can fall asleep unintentionally in dangerous situations, like driving, if you have sleep apnea. You could also have low energy, motivation, and brain fog. Excessive daytime sleepiness is a serious symptom because:

  • It increases the risks of car accidents and workplace injuries
  • Signal severe to moderate sleep apnea
  • Causes mood issues like irritability or depression, and
  • Affect school or job performance

Frequent Nighttime Urination

You could wake up several times to urinate at night. This often occurs because of hormonal changes triggered by disrupted breathing. During apnea episodes, your chest will work hard to breathe against a blocked airway. This will bring about pressure changes that affect the heart. As a result, the heart will release atrial natriuretic peptide, which signals the kidneys to increase urine production at night.

Sleep apnea also causes repeated short awakenings, even if the patient does not remember them. The patient will become aware of a full bladder and will go to the bathroom upon waking. Additionally, fluid can accumulate in the legs during the day. This fluid will return to the bloodstream and be processed by the kidneys during sleep. This triggers urine production.

Solution For Sleep Apnea

A solution for sleep apnea can involve surgical reconstruction of the patient’s jaw muscles to eliminate the condition. You can also use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device. This device draws enough air into the patient’s breathing system to keep the jaw muscles raised, preventing sleep apnea. These options are ideal but are quite costly, and most patients cannot afford them.

Dentists often recommend alternative treatments because of the recurring need to treat patients who cannot afford medical surgery or CPAP. The common sleep apnea remedies include:

A Tongue Stabilizer

Your dentist can recommend a tongue retainer if tongue size is the primary cause of your sleep apnea. This will help keep your tongue in position during sleep. Securing a retainer for your tongue is effective because the device keeps it in place. Similarly, it does not affect other dental structures. Usually, the dentist will first take the measurements of your mouth and dental structure. This will help the dentist make a retainer that fits your tongue well.

Your dentist will also assess your mouth and use a dental mold to capture the placement of your teeth and the shape of your maxillary and mandibular jaw. The measurements will help establish the actual arrangement that the tongue should be in without affecting the teeth.

The tongue stabilizer serves as a small pacifier because it rests on your lips. Its protruding shape creates a pathway where you slip the tongue to hold it in place, which helps keep the airway open.

The tongue stabilizer is a recommended solution for sleep apnea because it keeps the airway open, but other pre-existing medical conditions, such as acid reflux, can still cause sleep apnea. You should seek medical treatment for secondary conditions to avoid this possibility.

Mandibular Advancement Device

Fitting a mandibular device to your jaw to support the jaw muscles is one of the most popular dental treatments for sleep apnea. This method also opens the air space more naturally by creating a wider opening between the lower and upper jaws. The device pushes your lower jaw forward, opening the entire airway. You must be patient when using the mandibular advancement device because the process is gradual.

Your dentist will schedule several consultations when he/she decides to use a mandibular advancement device. The preparation will involve several procedures, which will guide the dentist on how to go about issuing specific treatment instructions.

The dentist will first address your medical record. Your previous medical history will help the dentist understand any conditions directly related to sleep apnea. You could be suffering from tonsillitis, which can cause inflammation. At this point, your dentist will refer you to an ENT professional who will remove the tonsils as a solution for your sleep apnea. It is important to notify your dentist of any pre-existing condition.

Find An Experienced Dentist Near Me

Sleep apnea affects a significant percentage of people worldwide. While some people overlook the condition or assume it is normal, sleep apnea not only disrupts your sleep but also your life. You need quality sleep and rest to function properly, which is why you need to seek treatment for sleep apnea.

If you or your loved one suffers from any form of sleep apnea, our dentists at Northridge Advanced Dentistry can help. We are experienced in handling a wide range of conditions, including sleep apnea. Contact us today at 818-701-3010 to speak to one of our dentists.