Sleep Apnea: The Causes, Symptoms, and How to Treat It

SleepandTMJCenter.com • Mar 20, 2022

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing is interrupted during sleep. It is a common sleep-related disorder in the United States, primarily affecting adults and obese people. In this condition, the upper airway muscles relax during sleep and block the airway preventing you from getting enough air to breathe. The breathing may pause for around 10 seconds or even more until you start breathing again out of your reflexes.

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, you must seek professional help from our highly experienced doctors at The Center For Sleep Apnea And TMJ. It is one of the best Grand Rapids sleep clinics providing reliable & effective sleep apnea treatment.

Suppose you or someone you know is suffering from any sleep-related disorder; you can discuss the same with our sleep apnea specialist in Grand Rapids and get valuable tips and remedies for sleep apnea and related conditions.

Types of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is of 2 types:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Central Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA is a condition in which recurring episodes of partial or complete blockage of the upper airway may prevent you from breathing during your sleep. This type of sleep apnea is common and can be controlled by practicing some helpful homemade remedies and tips for sleep apnea.

Ask our sleep apnea specialists in Grand Rapids for more details.

Central Sleep Apnea or CSA is a rare condition in which your brain fails to direct the muscles to breathe. It happens due to the unstable respiratory control center. Central Sleep Apnea is more associated with the improper functioning of the central nervous system.

A person with CSA is highly advised to consult our sleep apnea specialist in Grand Rapids to get the best available sleep apnea treatment.

Understanding sleep apnea will help you deal with it and treat it effectively before it’s too late. Let’s discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatments for sleep apnea in detail:

What Causes Sleep Apnea?

If you’ve been experiencing frequent awakenings during the night, it’s crucial to find out what is causing it. Several factors can cause sleep apnea, while the primary reason for sleep apnea is a lack of oxygen. This lack of oxygen leads to an increase in carbon dioxide, which signals the brain to start breathing again. The heart then beats rapidly and sends a signal to open the airway. The resulting breathing cycle is interrupted, and the patient cannot get into a deep sleep.

It’s essential to seek medical help from our sleep apnea specialist in Grand Rapids if you or someone you know is struggling with this condition.

Inflammation is one of the common causes responsible for sleep apnea. This inflammatory situation increases your risk of several conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. If you suspect that you have this condition, then you should seek treatment at our Grand Rapids sleep clinic immediately.

Obesity is one of the leading causes of obstructive sleep apnea in adults. More than half of obstructive sleep apnea sufferers are overweight or obese. People with excessive weight have large tonsils and adenoids, blocking the airway during sleep. Certain medical conditions may also obstruct the airway.

The underlying reason for sleep apnea is a narrowing of the airway in the throat. When the airway collapses, the body is unable to get enough oxygen.

Visit our Grand Rapids sleep clinic, where our highly qualified doctors will perform a complete assessment of sleep apnea.

Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea can affect your mental well-being. It causes breathing interruptions during sleep and often results in choking and gasping. It can even impair your ability to function correctly during the day. If you suffer from this condition, you must get the proper treatment from our sleep apnea specialist in Grand Rapids.

While you may think that loud snoring is the most noticeable symptom of sleep apnea, you should consider other symptoms of OSA. Frequent night-time bathroom visits are just as typical as loud snoring. The symptoms of sleep apnea are usually accompanied by snoring, choking, and daytime mouth breathing.

Sleep apnea patients often show the following symptoms:

Morning headaches
Feeling grumpy or disgruntled
Forgetfulness
Drowsiness
Worsening Depression
Low Libido or Lack of interest in sex
Repetitive awakening throughout the night
Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue

These conditions can be mistaken for laziness but are vital signs to look out for. Some people even experience behavioral and learning problems due to abnormal sleeping positions. If you suspect you are experiencing these symptoms, it’s best to have your sleep studied by our sleep apnea specialist in Grand Rapids right now.

How to Treat Sleep Apnea?

People with sleep apnea stop breathing partially or entirely during their sleep, sometimes several times a night. If professional care is not given to it, it may cause various chronic disorders. They include heart failure, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, etc.

Getting sleep apnea treatment at our Grand Rapids Sleep Clinic is vital as untreated sleep apnea can even cause job impairment, workplace-related accidents, and vehicle accidents. It may also result in underachievement in academics by children and youths.

If you suspect you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, visit our sleep apnea specialist in Grand Rapids right now. Our doctor will review your medical history and perform a physical examination. These exams will help determine if you have any other health conditions that can increase your risk for the disease. Our doctor will recommend the best-suited treatments based on how long the symptoms have persisted.

Changing lifestyle habits can also improve the quality of your sleep. Practicing some valuable tips for sleep apnea can significantly improve your sleeping conditions. Elevating the upper body for at least 30 degrees helps many people with sleep apnea. It prevents the collapse of the airway due to gravitational forces. In addition to lifestyle changes, oral appliances may also help the patient get back to a regular breathing pattern while they sleep. There are several types of oral devices approved for treating sleep apnea.

Ask our sleep apnea specialist in Grand Rapids for the proper guidance and remedies for sleep apnea. Our Grand Rapids sleep clinic is a well-maintained clinic where you can enjoy utmost comfort and safety while undergoing the best available sleep apnea treatment to lead a better, happier life. Please book your appointment with us right now!