Sleep Apnea Therapy - Murphy, TX

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when proper breathing stops for stretches of time during sleep. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea, is caused by facial tissues that relax and block or constrict the airway, often resulting in snoring sounds. When the brain receives insufficient oxygen, it triggers a stress response, waking up the patient just enough to resume normal breathing. As a result, the patient isn’t able to achieve deep sleep.

The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

If you have the telltale symptoms of sleep apnea, you shouldn’t ignore them! Daytime drowsiness alone has many health and safety risks, including an increased likelihood of experiencing accidents, depression, poor memory, and mood swings. Perhaps more importantly, the spikes in blood pressure that accompany the stress signal can become more typical than atypical, meaning that untreated sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure all the time. This raises your risk for heart disease or a cardiovascular event like a heart attack.

Excessive Snoring

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but snoring is a common symptom. So how do you know if your snoring points to this condition? Well, the only way to know for sure is to undergo a sleep study. However, if you find that you snore most nights and also experience daytime drowsiness, forgetfulness, or the inability to focus or remember, sleep apnea may be a likely culprit. A simple sleep study can reveal the cause of your sleep problems and lead you to treatments that can help.

An Alternate to CPAP: Oral Appliance Therapy

Many patients try to use a CPAP machine to deal with their sleep apnea. Although this device can help open the airways by forcing air in, it is rather bulky and noisy. In fact, many find this uncomfortable treatment to be more disruptive than sleep apnea itself! The good news is that you have another choice: you can get a custom oral appliance with us at Murphy Dental Home. Basically, when you go to bed, you simply wear the oral appliance, which repositions the lower jaw forward and keeps facial tissues from obstructing airflow.

Partnered with the Collin County’s Top Sleep Physicians

Although our team at Murphy Dental Home doesn’t perform the sleep study or use CPAP treatment, we work with trusted sleep experts who do. We can collaborate with these sleep physicians to make sure that you’re receiving the best possible care, whether it’s through an oral appliance, CPAP, or a combination of the two. If you would like to know which local sleep physicians Dr. Gandhi recommends, just give our dental office in Murphy a call!

Sleep Apnea FAQ’s

If you’re still curious about sleep apnea, you’re not alone. Because this condition occurs at night, many are left wondering about their trouble sleeping. That’s why we’ve included the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about sleep apnea in Murphy. Read on to satisfy your curiosity and learn more about how you can get a good night’s sleep.

Who is at Risk for Having Sleep Apnea?

While sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, this condition is much more likely to occur if you:

• Are overweight
• Have a thick neck circumference
• Have family history of sleep apnea
• Are middle-aged or older
• Are male
• Regularly consume tobacco and alcohol products
• Have high blood pressure or depression

If any of these risks sound familiar, plus you’ve been having trouble sleeping, there is a good chance you’re affected by sleep apnea. Call our office right away if this is the case!

What Happens if Sleep Apnea is Left Untreated?

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to a variety of symptoms, including daytime drowsiness, irritability, depression, loud snoring, morning headaches, and more. However, it can also cause serious health issues like increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, and poor quality of life in general. Plus, untreated sleep apnea puts others in danger, making car accidents much more likely due to having difficulty focusing.

Why is Oral Appliance Therapy Better than the CPAP Machine?

The CPAP machine has been the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment in the past. However, our oral appliance therapy offers many advantages compared to a traditional solution. Primarily, the oral appliance is so comfortable and convenient that patients actually keep up with their treatment. An oral appliance is easy to use and it can fit in your pocket! However, the CPAP machine is difficult to travel with and often uncomfortable for patients to use routinely.

How Can I Improve My Overall Sleep?

Part of treating sleep apnea is giving yourself the best chance at a good night’s rest. This starts with ensuring that you have a cool, dark, and comfortable sleeping environment. Additionally, exercising during the day not only makes falling asleep easier, but it can help you lose weight, decreasing one of the risk factors of sleep apnea. Another tip to keep in mind is to avoid drinking caffeinated beverages in the afternoon or at night because this ingredient can lead to restlessness. Lastly, find out what your sleep preferences are. Do you like complete silence or ambient noise? What type of blanket is your favorite? Anything you can do to promote better sleep will help!

If you have any other questions that we didn’t answer, please don’t hesitate to contact our office or request an appointment! One of our friendly staff members will be happy to give you the information you need.