Why Sleep Apnea Treatment Is So Important

January 30, 2014

Do you find that you regularly feel tired during the day even after you’ve slept all night? Have you ever been told that you snore loudly or that you seem to have trouble breathing while you sleep? These may be signs of sleep apnea and should be evaluated by a qualified medical professional. If you’ve been dealing with sleep apnea and its many undesirable side effects, Dr. Bobby J. Carmen and his caring staff in Norman, OK want to help you find the rest and rejuvenation you deserve from your sleep.

Complications of Sleep Apnea

As if excessive snoring and feeling exhausted as soon as you wake up isn’t bad enough, sleep apnea can actually lead to a whole host of other potentially dangerous problems if left untreated. Because instances of apnea throughout the night deprive the brain and body of vital oxygen, treatment should begin as soon as possible following diagnosis. Complications of untreated sleep apnea include the following:

  • High blood pressure
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Heart attack
  • Greater risk of stroke
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Respiratory failure
  • Atrial fibrillation, or irregular heart beat

Fortunately for people suffering from sleep apnea, Dr. Carmen treats this condition with specialized oral devices called mouth guards, night guards or snore guards. The comfortable oral appliance is custom-fitted to your mouth for optimal results. It keeps your airways open while you sleep to prevent lapses in breathing and loud snoring.

If you or your spouse is affected by sleep apnea, don’t suffer for one more night. Contact our Norman, OK office today and see how we can help you get the peaceful, restful sleep you want and need. We proudly serve patients from throughout Oklahoma City, the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore and beyond.

 

Could You Be Suffering From Sleep Apnea?

January 23, 2013

Snoring, while annoying to those in your household, is usually a harmless habit. Sometimes, it even takes years before someone lets you know you’re a victim of the condition – usually a tired spouse, or an annoyed friend at a sleepover when you’re still young. But did you know that snoring can actually indicate a much more serious problem? If you’re a chronic snorer, you might also be suffering from sleep apnea. At its core, sleep apnea is a condition that affects the way you breathe while you’re sleeping, causing your air intake to lessen or even stop altogether for seconds at a time, up to hundreds of time a night. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can lead to complications down the road if left untreated. Thankfully, Dr. Bobby Carmen is happy to help, here at his Norman office. Our team is committed to providing you with a comfortable and effective solution for your sleep apnea, letting you and your family get back to safe, peaceful slumber.

But first, how can you tell if you have sleep apnea? Here are some of the most common symptoms.

  • Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep
  • Chronic sleepiness during the daytime, no matter how much sleep you got the night before
  • Waking up with a dry mouth or throat after sleep
  • Loud snoring
  • Long periods of silence when sleeping – check with your spouse to see if this sounds familiar!
  • Morning headaches

Those sound familiar! What can you do to help me?

Never fear – Dr. Carmen takes sleep apnea very seriously, and he has an easy solution so that you can get the rest and peace of mind you deserve. We will have a mouthpiece custom-made to fit your unique features, commonly known as a snoreguard. As long as you wear the snoreguard during sleep, your airways will always be held open, getting rid of that pesky snoring as well as eliminating dangerous lapses in breathing.

Our team wants to give you a reason to smile! Call our Norman dental office today to schedule a consultation for your sleep apnea treatment. Dr. Carmen also serves patients from Moore, The University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.