What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a potentially severe, chronic sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing while you’re asleep repeatedly. These temporary breathing pauses may last several seconds at a time and can happen 5-30 (or more) times each hour. Men and women who suffer from sleep apnea usually snore, which makes the problem worse.
During sleep apnea, each time you stop breathing oxygen levels decrease and your brain sends a signal to wake you up, so you begin to breathe again. This repeated waking often makes you feel overly tired during the day. Most adults aren’t aware they suffer from sleep apnea since it usually goes undetected during routine medical exams.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when extra tissue at the back of your throat blocks your airway. Nighttime intraoral devices and dental night guards help to keep your airway open so you can get a more restful night’s sleep. Dr. Halverson works with an award-winning dental lab to make these appliances for men and women with sleep apnea.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Some of the visible signs that you’re suffering from sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping or choking noises, and chronic daytime fatigue. Other symptoms include:
- Sore, dry throat each morning
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Learning or memory issues
- Irritability
Sleep apnea can lead to other health conditions, like high blood pressure, heart problems, and Type 2 diabetes. Since Dr. Halverson takes a whole-person approach to treating sleep apnea, she considers all these factors so she can address you effectively and help you avoid additional health complications.
How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
To determine if your sleep apnea is mild, moderate, or severe, Dr. Halverson provides you with a watchPat. This compact device makes it possible for at-home testing that accurately measures heart rate, snoring, and other signs of sleep apnea. With this testing device, Dr. Halverson can then prescribe the proper treatment to help alleviate symptoms, so you get a more restful night’s sleep.
Alternatively, Dr. Halverson offers the most appropriate oral devices for each patient, for continuous open airway therapy.
How is sleep apnea treated?
For moderate to severe sleep apnea, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine delivers constant air pressure through a mask as you sleep. Although useful, the mask can be uncomfortable and inconvenient to sleep with on.
Alternatively, Dr. Halverson offers SomnoMed® oral devices for continuous open airway therapy.
Dr. Halverson and her team also work with a local specialist to help diagnose your type of sleep apnea so that they can prescribe the most effective treatment option. They work with your medical insurance as well to ensure that they get you the equipment you need.
Call the office or schedule an appointment using the online system.
