Encinitas Sleep Apnea Doctor
August 11, 2008
Introduction:
Sleep apnea is a condition that is suffered by many. Most patients are not even aware that they have a medical problem, as the symptoms seem to be somewhat benign. Sleep apnea symptoms include such broad problems as snoring, sore throats, being tired during the day and even morning headaches. All of these conditions can be explained away by other problems like a dry climate or restless sleeping.
Sleep apnea can be caused by the brain’s signals to control breathing being interrupted or by the muscles within the throat relaxing and causing the throat to narrow in size and restrict the air flow. If a patient has sleep apnea, they are not getting a good nights rest. With sleep apnea, the brain realizes that the body has stopped breathing and wakes a person up to get their breathing pattern back on track. A patient may not even notice this, or in more serious cases they may realize they are waking up at night.
Signs and Symptoms:
The most common signs include disruption in sleep; drop in oxygen level, dry throat, and inadequate oxygen supply and fatigue and daytime dizziness. In sleep apnea normal sleeping pattern is getting disrupted throughout the night, it means that the individual is unable to reach the deep level of sleep, which we all badly need for restoring our bodily functions. This leads to exhaustion and daytime sleepiness throughout the day. This poor quality of sleep may also lead to drowsy driver syndrome, increasing the risk of road accidents.
Encinitas Sleep Apnea Doctor Can Help Find Right Treatment:
When a person is suffering the symptoms of sleep apnea, it may not always be apparent as to what is causing the problem. Many of the symptoms are the same, even with obstructive sleep apnea and if a person believes they are having difficulty sleeping, in the San Diego area they can arrange to visit an Encinitas sleep apnea doctor to determine their individual needs. The point to be noted here is not all sleep apnea is accompanied by snoring. Others signs that a person is suffering from disruptive sleep patterns can be waking up groggy in the mornings and feeling tired all the following day. Having trouble concentrating on normal daily tasks is another symptom to discuss with an Encinitas sleep apnea doctor.
At times alignment of the jaw may also be one of the reasons to have a troubled sleep during the night and a dental device to help maintain proper alignment may be needed.
Different Devices Produce Different Results:
As mentioned earlier the causes of sleep apnea may vary, one of the 16 FDA approved dental devices may provide the relief needed to the patients. However, many of the Encinitas sleep apnea doctors also work with dentists to help fit the patient with the right device. In order to ensure the effectiveness of a device providing treatment, a second night in the sleep lab may be necessary. This would insure that the treatment method selected is effective for the type of apnea suffered by the patient.
Using CPAP:
If the sleep apnea is caused due to closing and blocking the airway, a continuous positive airway pressure mask may be prescribed. Again, it will require a night in the sleep lab to make the diagnosis and affect an effective treatment method.
Summary:
Masks are available to cover only the mouth or full-face masks that cover the mouth and the nose and is useful for those who cannot breath through their nose while they sleep. The Encinitas sleep apnea doctor needed will determine the type of mask.
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