Sleep apnea is a medical condition characterized by the periodic pauses of breathing during sleep. It can occur as frequently as 20-30 times per hour. During sleep, if you experience a pause in breathing, your brain detects the reduced oxygen levels and triggers a temporary awakening to restore normal breathing patterns.

Interestingly, due to the short duration of these awakenings, most people with sleep apnea do not waking at all, and therefore mistakenly believe that they are getting a restful night’s sleep when, in reality, their sleep quality is compromised.

Signs of sleep apnea may include:

• Insomnia
• Loud snoring, snorting, or choking sounds
• Drowsiness throughout the day
• Morning headaches
• Waking up short of breath

Sleep apnea can cause plenty of health-related issues, so if you believe you may have sleep apnea contact Sindledecker Dentistry and schedule a consultation. Often, oral devices can be used to help position the mouth in a way that helps with obstruction issues. Call today.