At the Center for TMJ & Sleep Apnea Solutions NW, we want to help people who suffer from sleep apnea and snoring. It is always concerning when sleep apnea is not properly diagnosed or left untreated. Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to a number of problems with your overall health, one in particular is aggressive heart disease.
Halloween has come and gone, November is here, and before you know it, the holiday season will be upon us. If you suffer from sleep apnea and are currently receiving treatment, it is important to continue with your treatment plan and scheduled appointments during this busy time. It would be a shame to let your holiday celebrations and activities sabotage your progress. Read on to learn more about what you can do to keep your sleep apnea under control during the holidays.
Last month, we sent an email about habits that may be affecting your TMD symptoms and treatment. Since we treat patients with sleep apnea and TMD, this month we want to share some habits that can affect your sleep apnea. Some of them may surprise you, and you may be doing them without realizing that they can lead to problems. Read on to learn if you need to break these habits.
For years, we have spoken about the negative impact sleep apnea can have on your overall health. Can sleep apnea also have an effect on your mood? The answer is an absolute yes. Patients who suffer from sleep apnea and are not receiving treatment do not get quality sleep at night. Your body needs adequate sleep to function properly every day. Think of a baby or toddler you may know. How is their mood when they do not get a nap during the day or if their sleep is interrupted? They are cranky, irritable, and difficult to calm down. While adults may not behave as poorly as children when they’re tired, their moods can be rather similar.
Do you or a loved one snore? People who snore often are unaware until a family member complains about the noise they hear every night. Snoring is caused when air flows past tissues in your throat that vibrate. Almost everyone snores at some point, especially if they are congested or have a common cold. The problem is when snoring is something that happens repeatedly every time you sleep. Snoring is one of the common symptoms associated with sleep apnea. You may be surprised to learn that snoring can lead to serious complications with your overall health. When you pair snoring with sleep apnea, it can be detrimental to your health if left untreated.
If you recently received an oral appliance to help treat your sleep apnea or TMD condition, you are on your way to feeling better and improving your life. As you know, dealing with either sleep apnea or TMD can be a difficult journey to navigate and can lead to problems with your overall quality of life. It’s amazing that a small oral appliance can make such a difference, but it does and has helped countless patients. There is an adjustment period, especially if this is the first time you are wearing an oral appliance.
We all know the importance of exercising to improve our overall health. Regular exercise can help prevent many health issues, such as heart disease. If you suffer from sleep apnea, regular exercise can also be beneficial in improving your symptoms. Exercise doesn’t have to mean intense cardio or weight lifting. It can be something as simple as a brisk walk. Any form of movement is beneficial to your health. Read on to learn more.
We don’t know about you, but we are so excited to see the arrival of spring. This means that summer is right around the corner! Even though we can be excited about the brighter days and the warmer weather, unfortunately, there is always the chance that you or a loved one will become ill. While we aren’t having the same issues as this time three years ago, people are still getting sick for a variety of reasons. This may leave people who suffer from sleep apnea wondering if their symptoms will return or worsen when they aren’t feeling the greatest.
We don’t know how you feel, but we are dreading when the clocks change on March 12th for Daylight Saving Time. While we will enjoy the brighter and longer days, adjusting to the time change can be difficult for some, especially if you suffer from sleep apnea or struggle to get quality sleep. Daylight saving time is the practice of setting the clocks ahead by one hour from March through November. Read on for some tips to help you adjust to the time change.
At the Center for TMJ & Sleep Solutions NW, we do everything we can to improve the sleep quality of our patients who are suffering from sleep apnea. While we encourage patients to follow our treatment recommendations, there are certain things you can do in your daily life to help improve your symptoms and not experience any setbacks with your treatment. It may be beneficial to evaluate your eating habits and make any necessary changes. There are certain foods that may be negatively impacting your quality of sleep and can aggravate your sleep apnea symptoms.