Sleep Disorders in Novato May Cease to Exist with the Help of Modern Dentistry

People experiencing sleep disorders in Novato may not realize that a local dentist offers snoring reduction services. Sleep apnea typically results in excessive snoring. When the snoring is so loud that it causes the person's spouse to sleep in a separate bedroom, a marriage is about to have dire consequences unless the snorer takes immediate action. Otherwise, the unsuspecting innocent may learn that a formerly beloved spouse is now seeking counsel from a divorce attorney. People get divorced for many reasons, including whether a spouse squeezes toothpaste from the top or bottom of a tube, so it is no wonder that sleep disorders in Novato may cause an alarming increase in local dissolution cases.

A New Dental Procedure Yields Promising Results for Sleep Apnea Patients People in Novato with sleep disorders may find that they are eligible to undergo a simple, 20-minute dental procedure that has a high success rate. With greater chances for optimum health, more energy throughout the day due to better sleep patterns and healthier marital relations, it is no wonder that more patients are interested in taking care of their snoring issues. A person with a sleep disorder may benefit from a simple dental procedure with a high rate of success. Additionally, snorers who wish to stop snoring should develop healthier lifestyles.

Other Ways to Control Snoring Issues Besides the possibility of undergoing a quick dental procedure involving minimal outpatient surgery, people in Novato with sleep apnea disorders should also try to drink less liquor, especially right before bedtime. Excessive wine or beer consumption may help a person relax, but alcohol may also interfere with a healthy sleep pattern. Another thing to look at is whether the person is overweight. A person who needs to lose weight should follow a nutritious diet and lead a healthy lifestyle. Along with waking up feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep, the former snorer may also find that he or she feels less tired and generally healthier.

To Snore or Not to Snore: That is the Question If a person who snores too much lives alone, the only person affected is the snorer. Eliminating alcohol consumption and losing weight may help the individual to conquer sleep apnea.

If all else fails, people in Novato with sleep disorders may discover that visiting the dentist yields surprising rewards.

Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Apnea in Novato

Sleep apnea is one of several sleep disorders Novato. It's a condition that occurs when soft tissue blocks a person’s airways, preventing them from breathing while they sleep. It can also happen when the muscles the respiratory system doesn’t receive orders from the brain to breathe. Countless Americans are unaware that they have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is essentially a pause in breathing while a person sleeps. This pause can happen many times causing the person to get insufficient sleep and oxygen. Various factors can cause a person to experience sleep apnea. These include: Carrying too much body weight Having medical problems, such as asthma or sinus issues Having a family history of the condition Getting older

How is it Diagnosed? A person’s medical history, family history and a physical exam might give doctors clues that the person has sleep apnea. Frequent snoring might also be a sign of sleep apnea. Also, doctors might discover sleep apnea in people who participate in sleep studies. Sleep diaries For people who think they might have sleep apnea, a sleep diary might help doctors determine if this is the case. Keeping a sleep diary involves tracking sleep and nap times and recording whether the person feels rested upon waking.

Polysonogram Doctors often use a polysonogram to diagnose sleep apnea. It’s a study of a person’s brain activity, eye movements and heart rate. The study also measures the person’s blood pressure and records how much oxygen is in the person’s blood flow. Technicians place sensors on various areas of the person’s body, including their fingers, head, face and scalp. The sensors help record the person’s activities as he or she sleeps What Are Some Treatments? Doctors may recommend several treatment options for people with sleep apnea. These include various devices and surgeries.

Devices Devices to treat sleep apnea include airway pressure devices and oral appliances. Airway pressure devices are snug masks that the patient wears while sleeping. These masks give the person continuous pressurized air, and prevents the their airways from becoming blocked. Oral appliances look like mouth guards. These devices keep the person’s jaws in a forward position, and thus keep the airway open. Surgery Surgery might be an option for people with sleep apnea Novato. Procedures might involve removing excess tissue that might be blocking the airway, removing the tonsils or adenoids, or inserting a tube through the person’s neck to the windpipe. Whatever procedure is used, it’s often the last resort. Doctors often recommend surgery only if all else has failed.

Recognizing the Signs of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep condition that affections millions of people. And while it's medically treatable, the unfortunate fact is that many people who suffer from sleep apnea don't know it and therefore don't get diagnosed. By being aware of the symptoms of sleep apnea, however, it's possible to receive the official diagnosis and treatment needed to protect one's health and well being.

Very Loud Snoring

One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea Novato is extremely loud and disruptive snoring. The snoring may be so bad that people cannot sleep in the same room or must wear ear plugs in order to sleep around the snoring person.

Unfortunately, since snoring can be a symptom of many other sleep disorders or medical conditions, people who snore don't generally consider the fact that they could have sleep apnea. Still, it's something worth taking into consideration and speaking with one's doctor about.

Waking Up Short of Breath

Most people who snore don't realize they do it unless other people inform them of it. As such, it's important for those who think they may have sleep apnea to be on the lookout for other potential symptoms as well. This is especially true for those who have family members who have had sleep apnea, as it's a condition that tends to run in the family.

Waking up with shortness of breath is another common symptom of sleep apnea. Since those with sleep apnea often stop breathing while snoring, waking up with a momentarily shortness of breath is common and is something that should be taken very seriously. Family members or loved ones who sleep in the room may also notice this.

Waking Up with a Dry Mouth/Sore Throat

Even for those who don't notice waking up short of breath, another common symptom of sleep apnea is that of waking up with a very dry mouth and/or sore throat. That's because those with sleep apnea tend to breathe in and out of their mouths at night, and the snoring can put a great deal of strain on the throat and mouth.

There are many symptoms of sleep apnea, but these three are usually among the most common. Those who believe they may be suffering from sleep apnea or other sleep disorders Novato area should see a sleep specialist for an assessment as soon as possible.

Foods That Increase Snoring

When it comes to snoring, it can be difficult for people to identify what contributes to sleeping problems, since they are trying to troubleshoot something that happens while they are asleep. With some sleep disorders, like snoring, the foods that people eat can actually plan a role in their sleep health. Learning what foods may trigger snoring can help people to reduce snoring naturally and may complement their sleep disorder treatment.

Why food triggers snoring

Many food allergies or food sensitivities cause inflammation in the body, which can include nasal congestion. Nasal congestion makes it more difficult to breathe and can impact snoring. If an individual has an intolerance or allergy to a food item, but does not experience breathing problems, hives, or other severe symptoms, this intolerance can go unnoticed. Cutting out the food that is causing problems can reduce unwanted snoring.

Obesity also plays a role in snoring, although individuals of any weight can snore. Weight gain around the neck particularly impacts snoring by squeezing the throat. Sleep disorders Novato experts recommend that obese individuals who snore lose try to lose weight to improve their overall health, including their sleep health.

Foods that may trigger snoring

Certain foods are more likely to trigger snoring; however, it's important to note that not all foods trigger snoring in all people. An individual who wants to see whether these foods may play a role in his or her snoring can experiment with eliminating these foods from their diet for two weeks. If snoring improves while the food product is eliminated, the individual may have an allergy. Subsequent doctor's testing can confirm a food allergy. 

• Wheat and other products that contain gluten - Individuals who are sensitive to gluten may be experiencing more snoring when they consume gluten. 

• Dairy products - Dairy allergies are common, and can also lead to excess snoring. 

 • Alcohol - Alcohol triggers snoring by impacting throat muscles. People who snore more often when they drink alcohol can cut back on drinking to reduce snoring.

Snoring can disrupt sleep and leave the individual feeling exhausted and worn out, but it does not have to be this way.

Treatment centers for sleep apnea Novato can diagnose sleep problems, provide comprehensive treatment options, and help people to develop healthy sleep habits by understanding what variables play a role in getting a good night's sleep.

Medical and dental options exist to help serious snorers

According to the National Sleep Foundation, 90 million Americans snore, and 37 million of them snore regularly.

For some, the condition can be temporary, such as if someone imbibed more alcohol than usual before bed, which can relax the throat muscles, or congestion that may be caused by illness or higher levels of contaminants in the air.

In other cases, snoring may be a chronic problem due to anything from obesity to slight changes in the shape of the mouth and jaw as the body ages. Snoring in general could cause less alertness during the day and disruptive sleep patterns, not to mention possible unhappiness from a domestic partner.

For about half of the snorers out there, snoring is actually more than an inconvenience – it can be a life-threatening condition known as sleep apnea, which is when the throat is blocked so much by snoring that breathing is actually obstructed. At best those suffering from sleep apnea can make it difficult to get extended amounts of sleep, and cause fatigue during the day. At worst, it could cause a halt in breathing, choking or even death.

Luckily, a variety of solutions are available for people with sleep apnea Novato, ranging from simple mouthpieces that keep the tongue from relaxing to machines that provide a constant flow of oxygen to surgery. A family doctor or even a family dentist can provide more information on all of these, since both professions are familiar with the workings of the mouth.

There are also sleep centers and medical and dental professionals who specialize in sleep disorders Novato, since getting good sleep is so important to our lives.

One choice that’s gaining popularity among people suffering from mild to moderate apnea is called the Pillar Palatal Procedure: it’s a minor surgery where tiny rods are inserted into the soft palate in the mouth. The implants help make the palate stiffer, which dampens the vibrations that cause snoring.

The FDA-approved procedure can be done as quickly as 20 minutes and only requires local anesthetic. Since no tissue is removed, there isn’t any damage or permanent changes to the mouth that would affect activities like eating or talking.

People with a sleep disorder Novato who have undergone the Pillar Palatal Procedure have reported a decrease in their snoring, better responsiveness and alertness during the day and an 80 percent drop in their sleep apnea. 

Reasons Someone Might Experience Sleep Disorders or Insomnia

Many people, especially younger people, often shrug off a few nights without decent sleep. They might even embrace it, considering themselves night owls. However, all of this nocturnal living, especially without catching up with sleep during the daytime, does have potentially negative consequences. In fact, many people might not even realize they are suffering from insomnia without considering some of the reasons they aren't sleeping.

For those who suffer from sleep disorders Novato or sleep apnea Novato, it is important to understand what some of the causes of insomnia, which include the following:

• Stress. Carrying worries about family, work, health concerns can feel overwhelming and can definitely wreak havoc on regular sleep patterns.
• Depression. Sufferers of depression usually encounter either excess amounts of sleep or, quite often, severe lack of sleep. Insomnia often exacerbates their depression, creating a vicious cycle.

• Anxiety. Whether anxiety of work or other everyday concerns, or if someone suffers from an anxiety disorder, a lack of sleep can make this condition worse. The person suffering from anxiety will often add their lack of sleep to their list of anxieties.
• Medical Conditions and Illness. There are many illnesses and physical conditions that can make getting a good night's sleep challenging, if not impossible. Those suffering from cancer and going through cancer treatments often experience side effects that make sleep nearly impossible. Other illnesses and conditions that make sleep difficult include heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, restless legs syndrome, arthritis, neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, overactive thyroid, and gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD).

• Medications. Many prescription medications cause an alarming number of side effects, which often include insomnia. Anti-depressants often a major culprit, but patients taking medications for heart disease, attention deficit disorder, and high blood pressure might often find getting a good night's sleep difficult. Over-the-counter medications, such as decongestants and weight-loss products, can also cause problems.

• Excess Caffeine, Alcohol or Nicotine. Coffee, soda, tea, alcohol and cigarettes can all cause problems for those trying to get to sleep at night, especially if they drink any of these products or smoke cigarettes anywhere near bedtime. Those suffering from insomnia are probably drinking coffee, tea and soda too late in the afternoon. While alcohol is a sedative, it disrupts different phases in a person's sleeping patterns.

A few other reasons that people might experience insomnia include travel, eating too much and too late at night, and simply developing poor sleeping habits by staying up too late at night on a continuing basis. 

Many options exist today for snorers and their families

For people with a snorer in their household, it’s hard to think that there could be any relief, short of bopping them with a pillow to wake them up or heading to a different room. Or both.

Especially since there are so many people who snore, or at least live with them. The American Academy of Otolaryngology, which specializes in head and neck surgery, reports that 45 percent of adults snore at least occasionally, and 25 percent are regular snorers.

The Sleep Foundation breaks this number out even further – 90 million sleepers snore occasionally and 37 million do so regularly.

Causes vary, but experts say factors include age (the muscles of the throat relax over time); gender (men snore more than women); alcohol use (this can relax the throat); and obesity (this leads to increased tissue in the body and respiratory challenges, and is a growing problem nationally.)

Though snoring isn’t necessarily harmful by itself, except to people trying to sleep nearby, it is also connected with sleep apnea, which is when the walls of the throat close so much that breathing actually stops. So instead of just being a noisy nuisance, it can become a serious threat to the body, causing everything from higher blood pressure to increased fatigue.

Luckily, there are several options for snoring and related sleep disorders Novato area.

• Lifestyle changes. The Mayo Clinic suggests that snoring can sometimes be reduced by stopping drinking, especially at bedtime; losing weight; or sleeping on one’s side instead of back.
• CPAP: A common treatment method is a mask attached to a machine that provides a steady flow of air to the noise and throat.
• Surgery. Snoring, especially in young children, can suggest problems with tonsils or adenoids. Snoring in someone who has never snored before may indicate possible tumors or obstructions of the throat.
• Appliances: People can receive devices in the jaws and teeth which expand the airway.

Today’s snorers can receive help from physicians and from dentists. Since dentists are familiar with the shape of one’s mouth and surrounding tissue, they may be in a stronger position to evaluate what could be causing snoring. They also can offer some solutions for those suffering from sleep apnea Novato, which can include everything from crafting the appliances to minimal surgery.