Sleep Apnea In Austin, TX
If you’re constantly being told how loudly you snore or you often wake up still feeling exhausted after a full night’s sleep, you might want to talk to your ear, nose, and throat doctor about sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can be dangerous and life-threatening if it isn’t dealt with. With sleep apnea, your airway is blocked while you sleep, making it hard for oxygen to flow freely. This can cause you to pause your breath while sleeping and can affect the amount of air getting inside your body. Sleep apnea can disrupt your life and make it difficult to succeed and be productive on a daily basis.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
Often with sleep apnea, it occurs because there’s a blockage in your airway. This is usually your tongue that slides back and obstructs the passageway. This occurs because there’s an issue with the functionality of your jaw. Your jaw might slide back and make it easy for your tongue to slip back as well. If you smoke, drink often, or are overweight, you might be more likely to experience sleep apnea.
Treating Sleep Apnea
It’s very important that you talk to your ear, nose, and throat doctor in Austin, TX, about treating sleep apnea as soon as possible. Without treatment, it could lead to serious issues, such as heart disease. The first thing your doctor may recommend is making some lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, losing weight, and exercising often.
When conservative methods don’t seem to work, you may need to try different treatments. The most common form of sleep apnea treatment is a CPAP machine. This device helps deliver air throughout your body while you sleep. If this option doesn’t work, your doctor might recommend an oral appliance that helps move your jaw slightly forward to keep your passageway open.