Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea in Martinsburg, WV
In Martinsburg, WV, Dr. Dougles treats your snoring and sleep apnea problems with the most appropriate and effective therapies. Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that detrimentally affects the sufferers. Sleep apnea is when the patient experience abnormal pauses in breathing. People with sleep apnea have a higher mortality rate, and often have other ailments or lifestyle problems that can contribute to sleep apnea issues.
Signs and Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Breathing interrupted by long or abnormal pauses
- Snoring loudly and chronically
- Choking or gasping, even to the point you awaken
- Waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth
- Enduring migraines, especially in the morning
- Experiencing daily exhaustion even after a full night’s rest
- Feeling irritable, moody, or forgetful
- Dealing with insomnia
At Martinsburg Smiles, we know the importance of treating sleep apnea. Did you know that chronic, loud snoring is often the most significant indicator? Snoring may be related to the constriction of the throat that occurs during nightly sleep. Unfortunately, most people who have sleep apnea are unaware they have a genuine issue that needs to be treated. Many cases are often diagnosed after someone else witnesses the irregular pauses in breathing. At our Martinsburg dental practice, we help our patients with sleep apnea, using effective treatments that open the airway and allow for easy breathing and more restful sleep.
Addressing Stubborn Snoring
Have you attempted to resolve your snoring issues, either by changing sleeping positions or trying over-the-counter treatments? If your attempts to resolve your snoring problems have been ineffective, it may be time to consider a sleep study to determine if you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea requires treatments that are specific to your needs—and at Martinsburg Smiles, we give you the treatment the benefits you the most. Sleep apnea treatments involve ways to keep your airway open, which allows you to get more oxygen.
Identifying Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risks
There are risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea, including lifestyle choices, such as smoking or being overweight. In some cases, you may be genetically predisposed to have obstructive sleep. Additionally, men are twice as likely to experience obstructive sleep apnea. At our Martinsburg, WV dental office, we think it’s important for our patients to be treated to increase their quality of life. If you suspect that your or a loved one suffers from the condition, contact Martinsburg Smiles as soon as possible. Patients who suffer from sleep apnea usually have one or more of the following problems:
- Being overweight
- Having a small upper airway
- Smoking
- Having a large neck
- Being older than 40 years old
- Drinking in excess
- Having a recessed chin or large overbite
Comprehensive Snoring and Sleep Apnea Solutions
Dr. Douglas will discuss your treatment options. In some cases, lifestyle changes such as losing weight, reducing alcohol consumption, and sleeping on your side may alleviate your condition. Sleep apnea and snoring issues can also be treated with specific devices, which hold the lower jaw in a forward position to maintain a clear airway and also with use of the Fotona Nightlase, which is only offered in Martinsburg at Martinsburg Smiles. These devices reduce snoring and improve breathing—ensuring that you enjoy a restful night’s sleep.
Martinsburg Smiles offers therapy for patients who need treatment for sleep apnea and snoring. We offer full service dentistry in one office to residents of Martinsburg, WV and the surrounding areas.