Living with sleep apnea can be difficult not only for you but also for the person you live with or share a bed with. If chronic snoring causes your loved one to experience restless nights, this may begin to cause a strain on your relationship. Will this problem ever go away for good? Can treatment be the answer to soundless, enjoyable, and well-rested sleep? Keep reading to learn how seeing a professional can improve your symptoms and keep everyone in your home happier.
Can Sleep Apnea Go Away Without Treatment?
Unfortunately, no, sleep apnea is not a condition that improves without treatment. There is no official cure for it; however, there are ways to improve your symptoms and thus improve the quality of your relationships and overall life.
What Kinds of Symptoms Occur with Sleep Apnea?
Whether you’ve been formally diagnosed or have yet to undergo a sleep study, certain signs can indicate it’s time to see someone for help. They include:
- Chronic, loud snoring
- Excessive fatigue/daytime drowsiness
- Moodiness
- Inability to focus
- Lack of libido
- Waking up choking or gasping for air throughout the night
- High blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Mouth breathing
How Can You Improve Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Improving your sleep apnea symptoms requires meeting with a professional who can provide treatment options that are safe and highly effective. Depending on the severity of your apnea and the kind of toll it is taking on your overall health and well-being, your dentist may suggest the following:
- CPAP Therapy: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most popular among sleep dentists and other professionals because of how long it’s been around and offers a reliable way to treat sleep-breathing disorders.
- Oral Appliance Therapy: Unlike CPAP devices that are bulky and difficult to travel with, an oral appliance is small and portable. You simply wear it inside your mouth so that your jaw moves forward just enough to keep your airway open while you sleep.
- Lifestyle Changes: These can include losing weight through exercise and a healthy diet, accessing cessation resources to quit smoking, changing your sleep position, creating a more relaxing space to seek nightly rest, and more.
- Treat Nasal Congestion: If you struggle with nasal congestion caused by nature, pet dander, or anything else, using appropriate medications to help reduce snoring and improve breathing is essential.
While sleep apnea may not be curable, it is treatable. You and your spouse or partner don’t have to continue to suffer night after night, so get in touch with a local professional who can help. With their expertise and array of treatment options, you can begin to get much-needed sleep and restore the relationships in your life.
About Grand Dental – Lake Zurich
Our team at Grand Dental – Lake Zurich wants to help you overcome the struggles that are common with sleep apnea. Using customized oral appliances to open your airway and reduce your chances of an obstruction, our team of talented professionals can discuss additional ways to minimize further problems so that everyone in your home can sleep soundly at night. Visit our website or call (847) 443-3953 to schedule an appointment.