Do I Have Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea? – Woodstock General & Implant Dentistry

Snoring is something that affects roughly 90 million adult Americans, 37 million of which experience snoring on a nightly basis. However, that loud and persistent snore may be more than just a disruption to you and your loved ones’ sleep. In fact, that snore may indicate that you have undiagnosed sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is characterized by shallow or interrupted breathing while you sleep, and these constant interruptions can play havoc on your overall health. While snoring is the most common and easily recognizable symptom of sleep apnea, it often goes ignored until a family member or bed partner points it out. The longer your sleep apnea goes undiagnosed and untreated, the greater your risk of nocturnal stroke, heart attack, and obesity becomes. If you believe you have sleep apnea, but don’t know for sure, it’s still better to err on the side of caution and get tested immediately.

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are two types of sleep apnea: Obstructive and Central. Although the symptoms of each condition are similar, the causes and treatments differ:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea can develop as the muscles of the throat, the tongue or other soft tissues relax and block airways during the night. The force of the air trying to get through causes exceptionally loud snoring. This is what most people refer to as sleep apnea, and can often be effectively treated by our team. Of the two kinds of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea is the more common condition.
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• Central Sleep Apnea occurs when signals from the brain fail to reach the muscles responsible for maintaining your nighttime breathing. This condition is less common and requires advanced treatment from specialists and neurologists. This condition is often tied to other medical conditions or medicines, although it may occur in conjunction with obstructive sleep apnea. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea is not associated with loud snoring.

Sleep apnea is incurable, but with proper treatment can be managed effectively. The qualified team at Hudson Valley Sleep Solutions can offer a proper diagnosis and top-notch treatment plans to best manage your sleep apnea!

Sleep apnea testing is the first step in figuring out your specific form of sleep apnea and how best to treat it. After your initial consultation and after completing a basic questionnaire, you’ll undergo a series of non-invasive tests that can easily be completed as you sleep in the comfort of your own bed.  Upon receiving your results and accurately diagnosing your exact sleep breathing issues, our team of sleep experts can begin customizing the perfect treatment plan for you.

We understand that each case is unique, that’s why we strive to offer a wide assortment of treatment options to meet your specific needs. At Hudson Valley Sleep Solutions, a noisy CPAP machine isn’t the only means of treatment we can offer for your sleep apnea, as there are a number of oral devices that can be designed and fitted just for you. You don’t have to be a prisoner to your sleep apnea, and our treatment plans will ensure that you can enjoy a restful night’s sleep EVERY night!

If you think you may have undiagnosed sleep apnea, schedule your appointment with Hudson Valley Sleep Solutions today!