How Can You Find Sleep Apnea Relief?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by interrupted breathing while you sleep. You may wake up dozens of times during the night gasping for breath, only to drift back to sleep. These disruptions keep you from getting the quality rest you need. Your Centennial, Colorado dentist, Dr. Tiffany Fritz from Piney Creek Family Dentistry, offers practical solutions for sleep apnea relief. The answers to the following questions give you a better understanding of this condition.

What are the different types of sleep apnea?

Central sleep apnea (CSA), Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and mixed sleep apnea—a combination of the two—are the three forms of sleep apnea. The most prevalent type, OSA, is brought on by the relaxation of soft tissues in the throat during sleep, obstructing breathing and blocking airways. As a result, you have to wake up quickly to catch your breath. Rarely, CSA happens when your brain cannot tell your muscles to breathe, which results in brief breathing gaps.

What are some warning signs I may have OSA?

OSA can produce the following symptoms:

Loud and disruptive snoring.
Waking up frequently at night gasping for breath.
Chronic tiredness or sleepiness during the day.
Frequent headaches.
Mood swings, irritability, or depression.
Inability to focus or concentrate on daily tasks.

The first step to getting sleep apnea relief is diagnosing your condition. Dr. Fritz encourages you to schedule an appointment to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.

What can cause OSA?

Age, excess weight gain, genetics, hormone changes in your body, and poor lifestyle habits (excessive drinking or smoking) are some of the factors that can contribute to developing this condition.

How serious is OSA?

If your symptoms are severe, OSA can be quite serious as it poses a risk to your general health. OSA keeps you from getting quality sleep, which can lead to extreme fatigue, irritability, headaches, and inability to concentrate or focus during the day. Lack of quality sleep also puts you at risk of developing chronic health issues like hypertension, heart problems, and diabetes.

How can you find sleep apnea relief?

Dr. Fritz can help you find the right sleep apnea solution to manage your symptoms and regain your quality of life. We recommend the following treatments to obtain sleep apnea relief:

Weight loss to decrease fat deposits in your neck that can impair breathing.
Nasal decongestants to help manage snoring.
The use of a CPAP machine to help keep your airways open as you sleep so you breathe freely.
The use of customized mouth guards to reposition your jaw to keep soft tissues from obstructing your breathing.
Jaw or nasal surgery to remove excess throat tissues that are blocking your airways while you sleep.

Call our office for more information

New Patients: (303) 562-1051 | Existing Patients: (303) 699-4822
Request an Appointment

Who can I turn to in Centennial, Colorado, for sleep apnea relief?

We encourage you to contact Dr. Tiffany Fritz from Piney Creek Family Dentistry to help you find your sleep apnea solution. You can contact us at (303) 562-1051.

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Dr. Tiffany Fritz

Dr. Tiffany Fritz is a highly skilled general dentist with over 15 years of experience serving the Parker, Aurora, and Centennial communities. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from La Sierra University before graduating in the top 10% of her class at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 2007, where she was honored with the Endodontic Clinician of the Year award. Dr. Fritz is a member of the ADA, CDA, and MDDS and has specialized training in Botox and Dermal Fillers from the AAFE. Patients appreciate her gentle, compassionate approach to care.

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