Sleep Apnea in Sherwood, OR

Sleep apnea is a common sleeping disorder. It is caused when the muscles of the throat relax and block the airway. This prevents proper breathing and may cause loud snoring. If left untreated, it can negatively affect a patient’s overall health. At Sleep Health Partners, we use several ways to treat sleep apnea in Sherwood, OR.

Types of Sleep Apnea in Sherwood, OR

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type, which occurs when the airway becomes blocked during sleep. This blockage prevents oxygen from reaching the lungs, causing a person to snore loudly or stop breathing altogether for several seconds. If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can lead to several health risks, including high blood pressure and stroke.

The other type of sleep apnea is known as central sleep apnea, which is less common but more serious than obstructive sleep apnea because it occurs due to a failure in the brain’s signaling system to control the muscles that control breathing properly. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, there is no physical obstruction blocking a patient’s airway; rather, the brain fails to signal the lungs to breathe. Patients with central sleep apnea in Sherwood, OR, usually experience unpleasant symptoms like morning headaches, sore throats, dry mouth, and fatigue. 

Because obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea can both be serious conditions, patients with either of these disorders should seek treatment from a sleep specialist in Sherwood, OR, for an accurate diagnosis. Treatment options depend on the cause of the condition. Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol, and avoiding sleeping on your back can help manage both types of sleep apnea in Sherwood, OR. In cases of obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliances can be used to force the tongue and lower jaw forward and prevent it from obstructing the airways while sleeping. CPAP machines are often used in cases of central sleep apnea to help keep the air passages open during the night. In some cases, a combination of lifestyle changes and the use of an oral appliance therapy in Sherwood, OR, or a CPAP machine may be necessary to effectively treat sleep apnea. 

Talk to your dentist for more information about how to treat your sleep apnea in Sherwood, OR.