Many people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) without really understanding the causes or what they can do to manage their symptoms. OSA is a sleep-related condition characterized by pauses in your breathing as you sleep caused by obstruction of your airways. Loud snoring, snorting, and gasping for breath are common sleep apnea symptoms. These symptoms can disrupt sleep, leaving you tired and sleep-deprived in the morning. An evaluation at Clint Bruyere, DDS, your Longview, Texas, dental office, can determine if you suffer from this condition. Dr. Bruyere can recommend sleep apnea and snoring solutions to help you get the rest you need.
Common Causes of Snoring
A common symptom of sleep apnea is snoring, but not everyone that snores has this condition. Snoring can also be caused by your natural anatomy, weight level, the position in which you sleep, drinking habits, or other natural causes. When you sleep, your throat muscles tend to relax, which can cause your airway tissues to sag and block air from flowing through your airways freely. Snoring is the sound produced by the vibration of your upper airways when breathing through narrow or partially blocked air passages during sleep.
Sleep Apnea and Snoring Solutions
Snoring not caused by sleep apnea can often be resolved by changing certain aspects of your lifestyle, such as:
- Losing excess weight
- Sleeping on your side instead of on your back to keep airways from closing
- Avoiding drinking alcohol before going to sleep
- Using nasal congestion medication to help you breathe
If your snoring is the result of OSA, we recommend using:
- An oral appliance such as a custom-fitted mouthguard to keep your tongue, soft palate, and jaw from sagging and obstructing your airways while sleeping
- A CPAP machine to keep your airways open so you can breathe easily while you sleep
After evaluating your condition, Dr. Bruyere can recommend the best treatment to get a good night’s sleep.
To schedule a consultation for sleep apnea treatment, contact Dr. Clint Bruyere in Longview, TX, at (903) 708-6116.
