Most people don’t think of snoring as something to be overly concerned about. However, loud, disruptive snoring may very well be a sign of sleep apnea. Seattle patients with sleep apnea suffer from a potentially life-threatening condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. Although sleep apnea is treatable, it often goes undiagnosed.
Find solutions to your sleep apnea today! Contact us for more information.
Complaints of snoring or periods of interrupted sleep are often symptoms that cause a person to wonder if they have sleep apnea. Other symptoms you may have sleep apnea include:
- Snoring
- Pauses in breathing (including gasping or choking during sleep)
- Restless sleep
- Nighttime chest pain
- Morning headaches
- Daytime drowsiness
- Poor mental function/inability to focus
- Memory loss
- Irritability
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Excessive weight
- Reduced libido
If you experience symptoms of sleep apnea it’s important you visit a specialist like Dr. Leone or Dr. Vaughn for a comprehensive exam. If a sleep disorder is suspected, you will be referred to a sleep clinic, which will monitor your nighttime sleep patterns through special testing. Once diagnosed, our doctors will review your case and determine the best course of treatment.
Treatment depends on the severity of your case and the type of apnea diagnosed. The most definitive way to treat sleep apnea is by properly aligning the jaw in a way that prevents any type of throat blockage. Often this can be accomplished through various orthodontic treatments. In more serious cases, surgery may be an option; in which case, Dr. Leone and Dr. Vaughn will refer you to an oral surgeon who specializes in sleep apnea.
If you or your loved one suspect sleep apnea, Seattle orthodontists Drs. Leone and Vaughn can help! Call us to schedule your comprehensive exam today.
