Do you suffer from a sore throat upon awakening? Are morning headaches a regular occurrence? Do you feel restless during your sleeping hours or have problems with snoring? Have you woken up suddenly to find that you were choking?
What Is OSA?
If you have experienced any of the above symptoms, you may have a condition called obstructive sleep apnea, also called OSA. If you have a spouse or share a bed with someone else, he or she has probably already complained about your restlessness or snoring. He or she may even have noticed that you stopped breathing shortly during the night.
According to dental professionals who treat sleep apnea in New Iberia, LA, OSA takes place when your upper airways are blocked during sleep. When the airways are blocked, the muscles in the chest and diaphragm must work harder to capture air. When breathing resumes then, it usually is marked by a jerk or an audible gasp. While most people do not experience a sound sleep with this condition, they normally do not know that it is happening either.
However, you need not despair if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or if your OSA is moderate in nature. You can receive help dentally. Oral appliances area available for people who snore or experience moderate OSA whose condition cannot be alleviated by alterations in position or losing weight.
Is an Oral Appliance Right for You?
In order to find out if you are the right candidate for an oral appliance, it helps to answer a few questions first about your condition. For example, some of the questions include the following:
- Do you snore?
- How loud do you snore?
- Does your snoring bother others?
- Have you stopped breathing while sleeping?
- Do you often feel tired after a night’s sleep?
- Have you ever fallen asleep while behind the wheel of a car?
You can learn more about OSA and oral appliances by going online and visiting the Babineaux Family Dental site. The sooner you find a solution for your snoring or OSA the better you will feel both mentally and physically.
