Sleep Apnea Treatment
In Kansas City
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. The most common form, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when the muscles of the throat and mouth relax excessively, allowing the tongue and surrounding tissues to block the airway.
These breathing interruptions can happen many times throughout the night, often without the individual realizing it. As a result, sleep becomes fragmented, preventing the body from getting the restorative rest it needs.
If you frequently wake up gasping for air, feel excessively tired during the day, or have been told that you snore loudly, sleep apnea may be the cause.
Signs & Symptoms
Loud, chronic snoring
Pauses in
breathing
during sleep
Gasping or
choking while sleeping
Memory
problems
Morning
headaches
Excessive
daytime fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability or
mood changes
Frequent
awakenings throughout
the night
Difficulty
achieving
restful sleep
Why Treating Sleep Apnea Matters
Sleep apnea affects far more than your sleep quality. Left untreated, it can have serious consequences for your overall health and well-being.
The first step toward treatment is determining whether sleep apnea is present.
Proper diagnosis and treatment can help:
Improve sleep quality
Increase daytime energy and alertness
Reduce health risks associated with cardiovascular disease
Improve concentration and memory
Decrease headaches and fatigue
Enhance overall quality of life
Other commonly associated health conditions:
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When your breathing stops, your blood oxygen levels plummet. Your brain signals your nervous system to constrict your blood vessels and pump blood faster to protect your vital organs. This sudden surge in pressure happens repeatedly throughout the night. Over time, your body forgets how to "reset," leading to chronic high blood pressure even when you are awake.
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The constant drops in oxygen and spikes in blood pressure strain the entire cardiovascular system. Sleep apnea increases the risk of coronary artery disease (narrowed arteries) and atrial fibrillation (a dangerous, irregular heart rhythm). The physical strain of gasping for air also physically stretches and stresses the chambers of the heart.
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Because sleep apnea disrupts oxygen flow and triggers full-body inflammation, it makes blood more prone to clotting.
Heart Attack: The combination of low oxygen, high blood pressure, and stressed arteries makes a sudden heart attack much more likely, especially during the night.
Stroke: Interrupted blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain significantly increase the risk of a stroke.
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Sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes are deeply linked. Sleep deprivation and the stress of oxygen deprivation cause your body to release high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol causes your body to become resistant to insulin, meaning glucose (sugar) builds up in your blood instead of being used for energy.
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When your airway collapses during a sleep apnea episode, you still try to inhale. This physical effort acts like a vacuum, creating powerful negative pressure in your chest. This suction literally pulls stomach acid up out of your stomach and into your esophagus, causing severe acid reflux and heartburn at night.
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This is a two-way street:
Obesity causes Sleep Apnea: Extra fat tissue around the neck and upper airway can physically collapse and block your breathing passages while you sleep.
Sleep Apnea worsens Obesity: Sleep deprivation wrecks your metabolism. It decreases leptin (the hormone that tells you you're full) and increases ghrelin (the hormone that makes you hungry), leading to intense cravings and weight gain.
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Your brain needs deep, uninterrupted sleep to regulate neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which control your mood. Because sleep apnea constantly wakes you up (even if you don't remember it), you are starved of quality REM and deep sleep. Chronic exhaustion, daytime fatigue, and brain chemical imbalances frequently manifest as clinical depression or anxiety.
In some cases, sleep apnea may contribute to dental concerns such as tooth wear from grinding and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
We screen for oral cancer.
It’s so simple you wouldn’t even notice if we didn’t mention it.
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It’s an often unknown statistic that oral cancer causes one American death every hour. For 40 years, this mortality rate hasn’t changed. But it’s not all bad news. Early detection means a 90% cure rate for oral cancer.
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Every 6-month appointment, it’s a simple visual exam we’ll do as part of your cleaning appointment. No extra steps for you!
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If the hygienist or doctor sees anything that gives them cause for concern, they’ll refer you to an oral surgeon. This screening could literally save your life!
Complete Care from the Team You Know
Sometimes a tooth is too damaged for a regular filling and requires a root canal. Wisdom teeth typically require extraction because they do not grow in properly, and occasionally a troublesome tooth must be removed. In most cases, Dr. Patel is able to perform required treatment right here in our office, with the team you already know and trust.
Have a question about a treatment you’re not sure if we offer? Contact us.