For Sleep Apnea, Northwest Indiana turns to Smiles of Valparaiso
If you can’t remember the last time you had a good night’s sleep, because you or the person next to you snores, then the solution may not be sleeping on the couch. The cure, in fact, maybe sleep apnea therapy. Sleep apnea is a chronic condition and one of the more common—and noisier—symptoms is snoring. For sleep apnea, Northwest Indiana trusts the treatment provided by the dentists and staff at Smiles of Valparaiso in Valparaiso, IN.
Sleep Apnea is actually the cessation of breathing while a person sleeps. The most common form of this condition is obstructive sleep apnea. In this case, the soft tissue in the throat, and especially the tongue, relax during sleep and tend to fall back, blocking the airway. As the diameter of the airway shrinks, the result is snoring. And while the person snoring may not recognize this insufficient amount of oxygen, the brain certainly does and awakens the body to restart breathing. Believe it or not, this can happen over and over again throughout the night up to 100 times! That adds up to a lot of missed sleep. No wonder people with sleep apnea often complain of exhaustion during the day.
Daytime sleepiness isn’t the only side effect of sleep apnea. Other signs and symptoms include:
- High blood pressure, stroke and cardiovascular disease
- Morning headaches
- Depression
- Acid reflux
- Dry mouth
- Impaired concentration
- Impotence
Treating Sleep Apnea: Northwest Indiana Chooses Smiles of Valparaiso
For years, the most reliable treatment for sleep apnea has been a CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, machine. The fact of the matter is, however, most patients don’t like to wear a CPAP. Alternatively, we can fabricate an oral appliance that will help open your airway and reduce the severity of your sleep apnea. These oral appliances work by shifting your lower jaw forward, thereby preventing your tongue and throat tissue from falling back and blocking your airway.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you suspect that you or someone near and dear may have sleep apnea, then call Smiles of Valparaiso. With offices in Valparaiso, IN, we also conveniently serve people from Portage, Porter, La Porte, Michigan City, and Wheeler and nearby NWI cities.