Sleep Apnea

More About

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common but often undiagnosed sleep disorder affecting millions worldwide. It is a severe condition with long-term health consequences if left untreated. Struggling with sleep apnea does not need to be a sufferable occurrence, as at Parleys Creek Dental in Salt Lake City, Utah, we provide treatments for sleep apnea for patients in the area. Dr. Clinton Sorensen and his team offer the treatments necessary to help relieve sleep apnea symptoms for those struggling. Please schedule an appointment with us today.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep. It occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, causing a person to stop breathing for a few seconds or more. This sleep disorder can occur several times an hour, causing a drop in oxygen levels in the body. Sleep apnea has three forms of classification. 

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea and typically occurs due to an airway blockage.
  • Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): CSA is less common and occurs when the brain doesn’t send the right signals to the muscles that control breathing.
  • Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (CompSA): CompSA combines obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea occurs due to a combination of factors that can vary from person to person. Some common causes include:

Extra fat tissue in the neck can place pressure on the airway and cause it to narrow or collapse.

Sleep apnea is more common in older adults.

Men are more likely to have sleep apnea than women.

  • Smoking can cause inflammation and fluid retention in the airway.

Like many health concerns, sleep apnea can run in families. 

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

The most common symptoms of sleep apnea include: 

  • Snoring 
  • Gasping for air during sleep
  • Waking up with a headache
  • Feeling tired during the day
  • Having trouble concentrating
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Sorensen. We will go through various tests at your appointment to see if you have sleep apnea. If you do, we can proceed with proper treatment to help you sleep better at night and help you lead a healthier life. 

Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea

Dr. Clinton Sorensen will usually start by asking you detailed questions about your sleep patterns and behavior to diagnose sleep apnea. To help further determine what is going on, we also perform a physical examination and conduct a sleep study, which can record your breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate during sleep. Based on the results, Dr. Sorensen can determine the severity of your sleep apnea and recommend the appropriate treatment.

Treatment of Sleep Apnea

The treatment options for sleep apnea depend on the severity of the condition.

Mild Cases
For mild cases of sleep apnea, Dr. Sorensen may look for lifestyle changes for treatment. Lifestyle changes that may be part of your sleep apnea treatment include:
-Losing weight
-Quitting smoking
-Sleeping on your side
Severe Cases
For severe cases of sleep apnea, Dr. Sorensen may require medical interventions such as:
-CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, is a machine many have most likely heard about. It can be a daunting experience having to go to sleep with an oxygen mask over your nose during your sleep. Still, it has proven to help many sleep more soundly during the night and wake up with more energy as sleep apnea symptoms become alleviated with the machine.
-Surgery: As a last resort, surgery may be required to help treat sleep apnea.
Previous slide
Next slide

Sleep Apnea Treatments
in Salt Lake City, UT

Sleep apnea is a severe sleep disorder with long-term health consequences if left untreated. If you suspect that you or someone you know may have sleep apnea, it's essential to seek medical advice and get a diagnosis. Please schedule an appointment with us at Parleys Creek Dental today! With the proper treatment, sleep apnea can be effectively managed, and you can enjoy improved sleep, better health, and a better quality of life.