Seven Health Problems Caused by Untreated Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes stops or pauses in breathing due to either a collapsed or blocked airway. When this occurs, the body must wake up to start breathing again. These interruptions in sleep can cause various health problems when signs of sleep apnea are left untreated. At My Dentist in Plano, Dr. Darren K. Dickson helps his patients with sleep apnea to understand the dangers of untreated sleep apnea. He can help you feel more energized during the day and get more restful sleep with sleep apnea treatment in Plano, TX.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when breathing ceases during sleep due to the muscles at the back of the throat being blocked or collapsing. When you have sleep apnea, your body doesn’t get the amount of oxygen that it needs, which can lead to harmful effects of sleep apnea. Dr. Dickson offers effective sleep solutions in Plano, TX. He provides free consultations where he can help you take the necessary steps to find relief from your nightly sleep disturbances.
With the help of the i3D Smart CT machine, he will get measurements of your airway. This is usually covered by medical insurance. He will give you a take-home test that monitors your sleep patterns. Next, Dr. Dickson will review your results to make a diagnosis. A custom oral appliance will help keep your upper and lower jaw open for better breathing.
What does untreated sleep apnea increase the risk of?
When left untreated, some sleep apnea untreated risks include:
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Stroke
When you are showing signs of sleep apnea, it’s important to schedule an appointment with Dr. Dickson immediately for treatment. The sooner you treat your sleep apnea, the better you will feel.
Find comfortable sleep solutions
At My Dentist in Plano, we try to help our patients to avoid a CPAP machine. That’s because it isn’t the easiest sleep apnea treatment method available. Most patients benefit from an oral appliance that helps keep the airway open. Some drawbacks of a CPAP are that it is noisy, it can be uncomfortable as it moves air through a mask attached to a hose, and it can be difficult to travel with. Not only does an oral appliance help your sleep, but it also helps your partner sleep better too.
Learn more about sleep apnea treatment near me
When you’re interested in learning how Dr. Darren K. Dickson can help you treat your sleep apnea, schedule an appointment at our Plano, TX, office. He has helped many of his patients resolve their sleep apnea, get better sleep, and improve their health. He prefers to give his patients a more comfortable alternative, such as a custom oral appliance. We will work with your medical insurance to determine if you have coverage for it. Call our dental office today to learn more about treating signs of sleep apnea quickly.