Sleep Assessment
Do you struggle to get a full night’s rest? Do you feel like a zombie the next day, unable to function and complete any work? Are you irritable or have difficulty remembering things? If so, there is a good chance you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Because of its impact on your ability to breathe and sleep, you may wonder if you’ll ever be able to enjoy waking up feeling refreshed again. Although the treatment process for OSA is different for everyone, it’s important that you experience all stages of sleep in Topeka to ensure better rest and overall health. Read on to learn more about this process and what you can do to start getting better sleep at night.
How OSA Affects Your Sleep
When living with OSA, you will likely experience one or more episodes of apnea each night. When throat muscles collapse or a blockage occurs, your inability to inhale triggers your brain to alert your body to breathe. This up and down rollercoaster causes increased heart and respiratory rates and stress hormones. As a result, it can take a toll on your physical, mental, and emotional health. You’re often left feeling exhausted the next day, irritable, and unable to function normally. You may even notice problems developing throughout your body, many of which can become serious or even fatal (i.e., heart attack, stroke).
What Are the Stages of Sleep?
To avoid the potential of worsening health issues, it’s essential that you seek professional treatment for your sleep apnea in Topeka. Using a custom-made oral appliance can help you breathe easier and rest better because of its ability to keep your airway open. As a result, you will be more likely to complete the various stages of sleep, which include:
- Light Sleep – You’re still somewhat alert but your eye movement slows down. Eventually, your body and brain will produce sleep spindles that protect against early interruptions.
- Deep Sleep – It becomes harder to wake, and your body will begin to work on repairing its muscles and tissues. It will also produce proteins designed to boost your immune system and restore energy.
- REM Sleep – This is the final stage of sleep that stands for “rapid-eye-movement.” Here, your eyes will move quickly, and your breathing will become shallow. Your heart rate will increase as well as your blood pressure. Also, any new information you learned will be stored in your brain’s memory bank.
Completing each stage of sleep is important in allowing your body and brain the rest it needs. If frequently interrupted, it will cause a decline in your physical and mental health, resulting in many of the most common symptoms associated with sleep apnea.
If you want to take control of your sleep patterns and start resting better, don’t be afraid to talk to your sleep apnea dentist about what you can do to be tested for OSA.
About the Author
Dr. Michael Michel completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. After opening his first dental office in 1981, he discovered a passion for sleep medicine and pursued advanced training and continuing education to provide specialty services for patients suffering from sleep apnea. At Sleep Solutions, he and his team are committed to providing individuals with safe and effective oral appliance therapy to ensure better rest is achieved throughout the night, giving people the opportunity to embrace a better quality of life. If you would like help to breathe easier and get the sleep you desperately need, visit our website or call (785) 273-0802.