Most adults are affected at one point in their lives or another by the sensation of daytime fatigue. For most, it is due not getting enough sleep or a restless night of tossing and turning. For some, however, this is not the case, and even after a full night’s rest, daytime grogginess and irritability are present. When this occurs to you and you feel it is pretty consistent, it may be time to reconsider the causes of this phenomenon and look into the possibility that it may be caused by something related to your oral health. With this in mind, your Greenville, TX dentist at Dental Sleep Solutions of Greenville encourage you to research the effects of Apnea and how it could potentially be affecting your health.
The Effects of Central Sleep Apnea
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is a less common form of the disorder in which your brain fails to transmit the proper signals to the muscles controlling your throat while you are unconscious. This can result in a shortness of breath while resting and can be exhibited by making no effort to breathe for short periods of time. In other words, it is the periodic stopping and starting of breathing throughout the night. Given its nature, it may be difficult to determine if you live or rest alone. Fortunately, you can take an at-home sleep test to assess and monitor your breathing. If you do live with your partner and they have expressed hearing the periodic stops in breathing or other common symptoms, it is important to reach out to your specialist immediately.
Risk Factors
While this phenomenon can affect anyone – from young children to older adults and everyone in-between – there are a few risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing CSA. These include being older, as middle-aged and older individuals have an increased risk, being male, having a heart disorder such as congestive heart failure, having had a stroke, or even if you are taking narcotic pain medication. While these factors are not definitive, they can increase the likelihood of development.
Complications That Arise
In addition to the side effects that result from restless sleep, CSA can cause multiple complications down the line as well, including high blood pressure, heart complications, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, liver problems, and even complications when undergoing a medical procedure or surgery. While it may seem that CSA is simply daytime fatigue, it could actually have severe negative effects on your overall health. If you suspect you are experiencing CSA, contact our office today.
Learn More Today
Contact Dental Sleep Solutions of Greenville in Greenville, TX by calling 903-455-0516 to learn more about the risk factors and effects of CSA, or to schedule an appointment.