Sleep Apnea
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Sunit R Patel, M.D., F.C.C.P., D.A.B.S.M.
Pulmonary & Sleep Specialist located in Merced & Turlock, CA
Sleep apnea makes your waking hours harder to get through, as the condition can eventually have an effect on your mood, energy, and concentration. At his practice in Merced and Turlock, California, Sunit R. Patel, MD, treats sleep apnea with personalized oral appliance therapy. To schedule your consultation, call the office or book online today.
Sleep Apnea Q & A
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder causing persistent breathing problems during sleep, which can lead to a variety of symptoms associated with your brain and body’s inability to get enough oxygen at night.
Obstructive sleep apnea accounts for around 80% of sleep apnea cases. It develops because of structural changes in your airway when you relax. The tissues of your mouth and throat close off the airway and limit the space that air can get through while you sleep. Snoring is a common sleep apnea symptom that occurs when air passes through these tight spaces.
The team specializes in treating obstructive sleep apnea with treatments that reopen your airways when you relax. You might need to try a few treatments to find one that works well for you.
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea symptoms happen during the day as well as at night. This is because of the impact of not getting enough adequate sleep or of lacking oxygen at night.
A partner, roommate, family member, or anyone else who sleeps nearby might tell you that you snore, or they might notice pauses in your breathing at night which are more concerning. You might notice that you wake up a lot throughout the night or have trouble falling asleep in the first place.
When symptoms start to affect you during the day, many of them are similar to any kind of sleep deprivation or inadequate sleep. They include:
- Fatigue or frequent naps
- Irritability
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Low sex drive
- Headaches in the morning
- Trouble concentrating
You should get a medical diagnosis right away if you experience these symptoms frequently. Then, the team at Sunit R. Patel, MD, can provide the treatment you need.
What are my treatment options for sleep apnea?
At Sunit R. Patel, MD, the team specializes in managing obstructive sleep apnea using custom oral appliances. They design these appliances to fit your mouth specifically and adjust the specific structural complications that make nighttime breathing a difficult task.
Typically, oral appliances for sleep apnea work by pushing the lower jaw forward to widen the opening to your airway. Other oral appliances work by moving your tongue, which can close your airway when you relax.
If oral appliance therapy and other solutions like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can’t give you relief, oral surgery may be the next step in your treatment. However, surgery is rarely necessary for sleep apnea.
For more information on treating sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy from your orthodontist, call Sunit R. Patel, MD, or book a consultation online today.
