Are you planning a vacation this summer?
If so, you probably want it to be a fun, but relaxing time with family or friends. Feeling well-rested can make this a better experience with better memories to relive years from now.
But what if you snore — loudly and often — as a result of obstructive sleep apnea. If you have this condition, it can leave you feeling fatigued and sleepy throughout the day. Plus, your snoring can spoil the sleep of anyone who has to share a hotel room or a tent with you. That can leave everyone on your trip feeling sleep deprived … and easily irritated. Not exactly the recipe for a fun vacation.
Mark W. Wilhelm, DMD, wants to help. At our office in Woodbury, MN, we offer a sleep apnea treatment that’s travel-friendly. Call [phone] to learn more and to find out if you should schedule an appointment with us.
Understand What’s Happening
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder. People with this condition can stop breathing dozens of times or more every hour they are “asleep.” We put “asleep” in quotes because you never really get healthy sleep when you have this disorder.
With obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become closed off when you drift off. Your body does not like this. Not breathing causes stress, and your brain will wake you up at least long enough to take a few breaths. Now, this can be so brief that you don’t remember it.
When this pattern continues throughout the night, you may never reach deep sleep, which is why you can feel sleep deprived. That can leave you with morning headaches, make you annoyed more easily, and increase your risk of cardiovascular problems, heart disease, and car accidents.
None of those things would be good for your vacation plans.
Get The Sleep You Deserve
Many patients with sleep apnea can benefit from wearing a custom-fitted oral appliance while they sleep. This works by shifting your lower jaw forward just a bit.
This holds your jaw in a position that keeps your airway open. As a result, you can continue breathing when you fall asleep. That also means you don’t wake up as often, so you can get the deep, healthy, quality sleep that you need to wake up feeling rested and refreshed.
This also makes you less likely to snore, and it can reduce the volume of your snoring. That’s good for your family and friends who are on vacation with you.
Find Out More
If you already have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may have a CPAP machine. This can be an effective treatment, although it’s not always as easy to take with you when you travel. An oral appliance can be carried in your pocket, so it’s a convenient obstructive sleep apnea solution.
If you suspect that you might have sleep apnea, talk to Dr. Wilhelm. We can refer you to a sleep clinic, where you can be tested to find out if you have this particular sleep disorder. If so, we can help you treat it.
Call [phone] today or fill out our online form to request a consultation at our Woodbury dental office.
