What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing is stopped and restarted continuously throughout the night. In some cases, sleep apnea can be very dangerous. This is because breathing can stop for longer periods of time without the patient noticing. In addition to being dangerous, sleep apnea can cause disrupted periods of sleep and cause patients to be fatigued throughout the day.   Even more concerning are the medical consequences of untreated sleep apnea which include increased risk of stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.  While there are many different factors that cause sleep apnea including obstruction of the airways, Dr. Jammal at our dental clinic in Amherst is proud to offer his patients a wide range of treatments that allow them consistently to get a better night of sleep.

How Do I Know If I Have Sleep Apnea?

Many of our patients are unsure how to tell if they have sleep apnea. The most common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring throughout the night
• Gasping for breath during sleep
• Waking up with dry mouth
• Consistent headaches in the mornings
• Excessive fatigue throughout the day
• Insomnia