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Sleep apnoea

sleep apnia

What is sleep apnoea?

Sleep Apnoea is a sleep disorder which is characterized by the reduction of, or pauses in, breathing while you are asleep. The pauses in breathing, called Apnoea, can last in duration from a few seconds to a few minutes, with each episode occurring five to 30 times or more in an hour.

There are three types of sleep apnoea: Central Apnoea, Obstructive Apnoea and mixture of the two (Central and Obstructive). Central apnoea results when the brain fails to activate the muscles needed for breathing during sleep. Obstructive Apnoea results when the airways collapse during sleep. Sleep Apnoea that goes untreated can cause health complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes stroke, daytime sleepiness, difficulty in concentrating, and higher risks of work-related or vehicular accidents.

How do I know if I have sleep apnoea?

Symptoms include:

  • Heavy snoring
  • Headaches upon waking up
  • Excessive sleepiness during the daytime
  • Waking up feeling tired, or sweating
  • Waking up in the middle of the night with a choking feeling

Sleep apnoea may be the reason you feel tired when you wake up in the morning. What should be a restful sleep is frequently interrupted by pauses in your breathing, without your knowing about it. Instead of feeling refreshed, you feel sluggish and irritable upon waking up.

What treatment is available for sleep apnoea?

Depending on the severity of the condition, sleep apnoea can be treated using non-surgical or surgical methods. One of the most effective and simplest remedies is a snore guard – a custom-made mouth piece that is designed to move the lower jaw in a forward position so the bite is slightly opened, resulting in the opening up of the airways as well.

The best snore guards are custom-made to fit into your mouth perfectly, which is why it is much better to have a snore guard from your dentist at Improve Your Smile than to buy one off the shelf or online. Ready-made snore guards may even cause more problems themselves. Custom-made snore guards from your dentist will allow your lower jaw to be thrust forward so the airways will not collapse when you go to sleep.

A snore guard can help bring back a blissful, restful sleep throughout the night – and is much cheaper than a divorce!

Make an appointment about sleep apnoeia

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