4 Signs of Sleep Apnea

While you may have heard many of the common symptoms of sleep apnea, such as feeling tired, snoring and falling asleep during the day even after you have a full night’s sleep. Here are 5 signs of sleep apnea you may not have heard about. While the only way you can officially be diagnosed with sleep apnea is to have a sleep study done – either at a sleep clinic or using a home sleep device. Here are 4 other signs you may have sleep apnea that you have not heard of before.

1.     Gasping or choking during the night. You may not know you are gasping for air unless your significant other wakes you up and tells you. But when you quit breathing due to your airway being blocked, your body will begin to gasp for the air it needs.

2.     Morning Headaches. While you may not have someone that wakes you up when you are gasping for air, if you wake up often with a morning headache, this can be a sign you are not getting enough oxygen throughout the night.

3.     Dry Mouth. When you struggle with sleep apnea, you usually breathe with your mouth open, causing dry mouth in the morning.

4.     Gummy feeling on your teeth from sleeping with your mouth open.

For more information on sleep apnea and treatment, contact Dr. Judy Strutz and her team today.

Sleep Apnea In Men

Research by leading sleep centers found sleep apnea is more common in men than women and is made worse by individuals who are overweight.  Sleep apnea when undiagnosed can lead to falling asleep during the day; irritability, poor health habits and left untreated can cause death in some individuals. While C-pap machines can provide the necessarily oxygen you need, these machines are often bulky and cumbersome.

Dr. Strutz, "the most common type of sleep apnea is called, “obstructive sleep apnea.” While you are sleeping your airway collapses, cutting off oxygen to the brain." Your brain begins to fight for the oxygen it needs, and it will momentarily wake you up. Now that you are awake you will begin to suck in the air you so desperately need. Once oxygen has reached the brain you then fall back to a restless night sleep until the process begins again.

Over time this stress can cause damage to the heart and brain. When awake you may feel overly tired, your afternoon may be spent sucking down various caffeine drinks just to get through the day, only to head home at night and never reach the REM sleep that is necessary for a great night sleep.

While some individuals believe that sleep apnea cannot happen to them because they are fit and eat healthy. The unfortunate truth is that men who are in great shape can be impacted by this condition too. "You may run marathons, or exercise for an hour a day, but that does not matter," states Dr. Strutz. 

While for many sleep apnea requires a C-pap machine, some individuals can benefit greatly from an oral appliance. Dr. Strutz can evaluate you and get you on the right track to a healthier night’s sleep.

The Dangers Of Chewing Ice

 

After you drink that refreshing Ice Coffee on that warm day the ice clinks around in the cup. The tempting nature of the “tink, tink” sound of the ice cubes is calling your name and before you think about it, you have begun to chew on the ice. However, according to Dr. Judith Strutz, “This is a very damaging habit that can impact your smile and cause you thousands of dollars to fix.”

The medical term for individuals that chew ice is called pagophagia.  It is part of a smaller medical term called Pica. Pica is a medical condition where individuals have a compulsion to eat food items that lack nutritional value.  While you are responding to a desire to chew on ice, what you may not realize is that you have a medical condition. For example, you may have an iron deficiency.  

Iron deficiencies that are left untreated can result in fatigue. Iron carries oxygen from the lungs throughout the body. Less oxygen in the body can reduce your ability to think clearly and solve those problems at work. While you may believe that grabbing that cup of ice can help replenish it, it is not a positive solution.

When you constantly chew on ice you are creating a hot-cold cycle in your mouth. This change in temperature can cause tiny fractures on your teeth, which can eventually lead to great damage to fillings and your overall tooth structure.

Furthermore, your gums are very sensitive and require protection. While chewing on a sharp piece of ice you can actually puncture the gums. This open hole in the mouth is then susceptible to bacteria as food particles are chewed.

One easy suggestion: if you are addicted to chewing on ice, try sugarless gum.

And of course, let your dentist or dental hygienist know so they can also help you come up with other solutions.