Sleep apnea: Your most common questions answered

August 2023

Do you suffer from loud snoring, daytime drowsiness, and pauses in breathing in your sleep? If so, you may be one of the 30 million Americans. Understanding sleep apnea is very important in order to get proper treatment, so we have gathered the most commonly asked questions regarding sleep apnea. Keep reading to learn more about sleep apnea and how to get proper sleep apnea treatment to stop your suffering.

What are the signs of sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea doesn’t just cause snoring and pauses in breathing during sleep. There are plenty of other signs and symptoms of sleep apnea that happen when you are awake, as well.

Some of the other signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

Feeling tired or exhausted upon waking up in the morning
Daytime sleepiness and drowsiness during inappropriate times, such as at work, driving, or after drinking coffee
Mood changes, especially irritability
Memory loss
Trouble concentrating
Waking up repeatedly in the middle of the night
Insomnia
Night sweats
Headaches
Sexual dysfunction
Depression
Anxiety

What causes sleep apnea?

There is no single cause of sleep apnea, and everyone who suffers from it may have a different cause. However, there are certain risk factors that put people at a higher chance of developing sleep apnea and needing sleep apnea treatment.

Some of the risk factors of sleep apnea include:

Being overweight
Being male
Use of drugs or alcohol
Smoking
Nasal congestion
Chronic allergies
Some medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, PCOS, and asthma
Family history of sleep apnea
Natural anatomy, such as large tonsils, neck circumference, dental issues, and more

What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated?

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that requires treatment. If you feel as if you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea, it is important to seek a diagnosis and receive sleep apnea treatment as soon as possible.

Some of the dangers of untreated sleep apnea include:

Heart damage
Liver failure
Stroke
Heart attack
Arrhythmias
Obesity
Accidents from daytime drowsiness

Sleep apnea treatment with raio dental

Sleep apnea is relatively easy to treat—and you do not need to use a loud, uncomfortable CPAP machine. Simply come to our office for treatment using the Vivos Treatment to keep your airways open for a more restful sleep without snoring and constant nighttime awakenings.

Vivos treatment opens the airway, which allows for nose breathing. Over time, alongside Myofunctional treatment, the jaw, tongue, and lips return to their natural position.

Located in Medford, New York, Dr. Raio is an Airway Health Specialist and Restorative Dentist. He has over 25 years of clinical experience and is a strong advocate of ongoing education and remains on the cutting edge of the most advanced treatments available for the treatment of his patients. The clinic offers a wide range of services, such as general services, specialty services, and sleep dentistry.