Do you often snore at night? In addition to driving your significant other crazy, regular snoring could be a sign that you need treatment. Often, the issue is linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which could impact your overall health. If you snore regularly, then talk to your Spring, TX, dentists today!
Poor Bedtime Habits
Our bedtime routine could increase the risk of snoring and sleep apnea episodes. For example, eating a large meal, engaging in vigorous exercise, and consuming alcohol or caffeine products in the two to four hours before bed may prevent you from going to sleep easily. Alcohol may make you feel sleepy initially, but you’ll be likely to have trouble reaching the REM stage and may wake especially early. You should avoid looking at screens in the half hour before bed, such as TV, computers, or smartphones. Your smartphone uses a blue light that tricks the brain into thinking it is daylight, leading to trouble falling asleep.
Sleep Apnea
Snoring happens when air is forced through partially blocked airways. Sleep apnea happens when collapsed soft tissues completely block airflow, until the patient actually stops breathing and must be woken by the brain. As a result, a chronic snore is often a warning sign that you need treatment for OSA. Without treatment, you may experience headaches, exhaustion, dry mouth, moodiness, and a greater risk of high blood pressure (and with it, a greater risk of heart attack and stroke).
When Do You Need Treatment?
If you experience persistent snoring, dry mouth in the morning, daytime drowsiness, or episodes of waking suddenly in the night gasping for air or choking, then you may need treatment. Let us know if one or more of these potential symptoms applies to your experience. We can perform an at-home sleep test to diagnose the issue and then discuss treatment, such as a custom-made oral appliance. If you have any questions, please give us a call today!
Ready for Snore Solutions?
Our team offers sleep solutions to address OSA and help you rest easier. To learn more, call Houston Sleep Solutions in Spring, TX, at (281) 320-2000, or in Pearland, TX, at (832) 564-3508.
