Chesapeake Sleep Apnea | 3 Surprising Signs of Sleep Apnea

Sleep Dentist Near Me

Sleep apnea is a serious, life threatening condition. Many people think that sleep apnea is prevalent in people who are overweight and snore loudly. However, there are unfamiliar symptoms that suggest the presence of this sleep disorder. Consider some of these alternative signs and whether they are contributing to untreated sleep apnea.

Depression

Sleeping often affects your mood the next day. Depression and sleep apnea are linked with one another because lack of sleep can cause irritability, low energy levels, loss of interest in daily activities and feelings of sadness. When any of these symptoms occur, treating sleep apnea may help.

Trouble Thinking

Sleep apnea can have a tremendous impact on your ability to think clearly throughout the day. With sleep apnea, frequent awakening to restore breathing patterns can result in a poor quality of sleep. One of the major functions of sleep is to refresh pathways and neurotransmitters in the brain. When sleep continues to be disrupted, your brain can’t restore back to a normal sleep pattern.

Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

The National Sleep Foundation explains that bruxism is a common condition that affects up to 8% of the population and may be linked to untreated sleep apnea. The relationship between teeth grinding and sleep apnea is directly related to repeated sleep disturbances. When breathing stops and starts to resume, it is usually accompanied by snoring, gasps, mumbles, or bruxism.

Sleep apnea is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. However, there are other uncommon signs that could mean you have sleep apnea. Without treatment, sleep apnea increases the risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, heart failure and irregular heartbeat. Visit us if you are experiencing any signs of sleep apnea. We can make a diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan based on your individual needs.

Call us today for a consultation.