Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment in Fresno

Aka: Obstructive Sleep Disturbed Breathing

Have you been told you Snore? Do you wake up tired? Do you easily fall asleep while sitting, driving, and reading because you didn't get a good night's sleep? If so, you may be suffering from Sleep Apnea.

Fresno sleep apnea dentist Dr. Netzley is the first in the Central Valley who has the ability to measure your airway to determine the extent of your disturbed breathing. There are many diseases that are caused or exacerbated by sleep apnea. Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, GERD, bruxism, ADD, Impotency, bed wetting, stroke, heart attacks, ADHD, Abfractions, just to name a few.

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that interrupts a person’s breathing during sleep. There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Blockage of the airway

Generally this occurs when the soft tissue collapses in the back of the throat during sleep. This is the most common type of apnea.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Lack of signal from the brain instructing the body to breathe.

CSA may be triggered by certain types of medical conditions such as arthritis, encephalitis, and Parkinson's disease.

Mixed Sleep Apnea - A combination of both OSA and CSA.

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Some of these issues may be signs of sleep apnea:

Loud snoring
Pauses in breath while sleeping
Waking up feeling short of breath
Trouble returning to sleep after waking up during the night
Restless sleep
Insomnia
Headaches in the morning
Sore throat or dry mouth when you first wake up
Sleepiness and fatigue throughout the day despite substantial sleep
Forgetfulness
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Moodiness

Who is at Risk?

Any person throughout his or her life may be effected. The following may increase your risk of suffering from sleep apnea:

Over 40 years old
Overweight
Large neck, tongue, uvula, or tonsils
Small jaw
Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
Nasal blockage from allergies, deviated septum, or other sinus problems.
Family history of sleep apnea

Effects of Sleep Apnea

If sleep apnea is not properly treated these serious medical conditions may occur:

Heart attack
Stroke
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Headaches
Depression
Asphyxiation

Sleep Apnea Prevention

Following a healthy lifestyle that includes a balance diet, exercise, and a regular sleep schedule may reduce your risk of being affected by sleep apnea. To further reduce your risk of being affected you may want to consider the following:

Avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, and other sedatives that may relax the throat and constrict breathing .
Try to sleep in a position that enables you to sleep easily. Keep in mind that sleeping on your back may encourage your soft tissue to collapse and restrict your breathing.
Losing weight may alleviate stress on your neck and heart and allow you to sleep with less interruptions.