San Francisco and Marin CA
Feeling chronically fatigued and tired all the time can make you feel like a zombie. So can dealing with reoccurring or chronic headaches and migraines. Sometimes, ailments like chronic fatigue or headaches can leave you wondering what’s causing these issues. Sleep plays a huge role in energy levels and can be the culprit behind headaches or migraines. But if you go to bed and wake up at a decent hour every day, thinking that you’re getting enough sleep yet still have low energy and reoccurring head pain, you may be left feeling puzzled. If this sounds familiar to you, it’s possible that you could have a sleep breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is when the airway is restricted, and sometimes completely blocked, reducing airflow while sleeping. As a result, someone with obstructive sleep apnea may snore or gasp for air, and most of all, feel chronically fatigued and experience headaches or migraines often. When sleep apnea occurs, the brain’s REM sleep cycle is disturbed, resulting in fragmented sleep. You might not realize this is happening because while the brain’s sleep cycle breaks enough to alert the body to start breathing again, you might not wake up fully. So, even if you go to bed at a decent hour and wake up at the same time of day consistently, you may not be clocking as many hours of quality sleep as you thought. Therefore, it’s possible that obstructive sleep apnea could be to blame.
Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Snoring: Snoring is one of the most common signs of obstructive sleep apnea, although it’s not the only one. Even children that snore could be at risk of a sleep-breathing disorder that restricts airflow. Therefore, do not ignore the common sleep apnea symptoms.
- Fatigue: Feeling tired day in and day out is also a common sleep apnea symptom. You are not going to feel rested if your sleep cycle is interrupted dozens or hundreds of times a night.
- Headaches: Head pain or migraines are never any fun and can get you down quicker than anything else, even keep you from work. But a lack of sleep and reduced oxygen flow throughout the body can result in headaches and migraines when sleep apnea goes untreated.
- Other Health Complications: Sleep breathing disorders are also linked with other health problems like heart disease, insulin resistance, and memory loss. Therefore, it’s essential that if you experience these health issues, consider a sleep apnea screening to rule out sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Screenings in Marin, Oakland, and the Bay Area, California
If you experience sleep apnea symptoms or have related health issues that are linked to untreated sleep apnea, consider an airway evaluation at Glen Park Dental. Our airway dentists can screen you for sleep apnea and determine if you would benefit from an official sleep study. We also provide non-invasive treatment to help manage your condition. To learn more about sleep apnea screenings or treatments, contact Glen Park Dental by calling (415) 585-1500.
