Boulder General Dentistry

Sleep apnea, a disorder where you stop breathing for at least ten seconds, can be a serious condition. Besides daytime fatigue, which can really ruin your day, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, heart attacks, and strokes. That's right; sleep apnea may lead to death.

However, there are several ways to treat sleep apnea and improve your sleep and your health.

• Behavioral Changes - Because things like alcohol intake, tobacco use, and diet may be causes, changing your behavior can help. By quitting smoking, limiting the amount of alcohol you consume, and losing weight, you reduce the severity of apnea. If you are unable to change your behavior on your own, talk to a physician.
• Oral Appliance Therapy - Several devices may help including mouth guards, tongue and jaw positioners. These will help to hold those parts of your mouth, such as your tongue or jaw, from blocking your airway.
• CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is a mask you wear at night to keep air flowing through your nostrils. This keeps your throat from closing and keeps oxygen flowing to your brain and heart. CPAP will also help keep you from snoring.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, please contact Dr. Birnbach to find out your treatment options. Don't miss anymore sleep because of this condition.