Snoring and sleep apnea may not sound like dental issues to you. However, there are many dentists that can help patients who suffer with these issues on a chronic basis. Des Moines, IA dentist, Dr. Stephen Burds, is one such medical professional. His expertise has assisted countless patients who are tired of dealing with persistent snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These health issues result in blockages that occur when soft oral tissues obstruct your airways either partially or completely.
Partial Blockage: Snoring
Snoring is when a partial blockage of your airway occurs from the positioning of the tissues as you sleep. Vibrations occur when air is forced past this blockage. Because such a small space is available as a result of the blockage, obnoxious noises might occur that are distracting to anyone sleeping in the same vicinity as you. If you have been informed that you make a ruckus with your snoring which rivals the sound of a freight train plowing through your bedroom, you may want to pay attention. Your loud snoring could be a sign of OSA.
Complete Blockage: OSA
OSA is more serious than many people realize. In fact sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition that can be brought to your attention when someone points out that not only do you snore loudly, but you sound as though you are gasping for breath at various points throughout the night. OSA is a complete airway blockage, which means that you actually stop breathing for as many as 30 seconds at a time. Believe it or not, for patients with OSA, this can happen hundreds of times throughout any given night. Your sleep will be completely poor in quality when you are fighting to breathe all night. Day time exhaustion is often one of the tell-tale signs of OSA. The condition has also been associated with heart attacks, poor work performance, impotence, car accidents, depression, forgetfulness, and irritability.
Visit your Des Moines, IA Dentist
If you are concerned with snoring or OSA, visit our website or contact our office at (515) 244-9565. We are currently accepting new patients and are proud to serve the residents of River Bend, Kirkwood Glen, East Village, and neighboring Des Moines communities.