Hilliard Cosmetic dentist Mark Levy, D.D.S. specializes in a wide range of cosmetic dentistry techniques. At his practice, located in Hilliard, near Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Levy provides an array of cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as Americas-best-dentist porcelain veneers, headache therapy, sleep apnea, dental implants and more.
Mark Levy DDS
1925 Hilliard Rome Rd
Hilliard, OH 43026
https://marklevydds.com

Sleep is a vital part of everyday living, and sleep apnea could be taking that vitality away from you. Without enough sleep, it is nearly impossible to function throughout the day, especially if sleep deprivation occurs over an extended period. Most people don’t have trouble going to bed at night and waking up feeling energized and ready to go in the morning, but there are some that suffer from serious sleep disorders. Among those disorders, sleep apnea is one of the most common of the bunch. If you are having difficulty staying awake during the day, and people say that you snore during the night, it may a good idea to try and decide if you suffer from sleep apnea. There are signs to look for and tests that can be run to find out if it is an issue or not.

Using a Sleep Study

The best way to have your sleep problems evaluated is by undergoing a sleep study. There are numerous sleep study options around Columbus, Ohio, and going through one can help determine if you suffer from sleep apnea or not.

During the study, you will be attached to specialized equipment and you will be asked to sleep in a private bedroom. Wires will run to your head and monitor brain activity, sensors will check to see how you are breathing, a microphone listens to you throughout the night, and a heart monitor pays attention to your pulse during the night. Altogether, you get a vivid picture of how you are sleeping during the night. It is this information that will be used to diagnose your problem and decide if you have sleep apnea.

The Equipment Used During a Sleep Study

During a sleep apnea study, the experts will rely on a bunch of different tools to figure out what the heck is going on with your sleeping pattern. Tools like an EEG, EMG, EOG, and ECG as well as a microphone and an airflow sensor will be relied upon to find out what happens after you close those tired eyelids.

The ECG

An ECG is used in potential sleep apnea studies because it checks your heart rate and rhythms. This will look for irregularities with your heart beat. An irregular heartbeat isn’t often a factor in sleep apnea and it points to other problems in many instances, but an ECG is still important during the test as it can help disprove sleep apnea is the problem.

The EOG

An EOG is a tool that records the movement of your eyes during the night. The tool can let the experts know which stage of sleep you are actively in during the night, which is an important way  to look out for sleep apnea or other potential issues.

The EEG

All those scary wires and electrodes are tracking the signals that your brain is sending off. They are used to see brain activity throughout the night, which is also important in determining what is going on while you are sleeping.

The Airflow Sensor

Nasal airflow is a good indicator about what happens during sleep. If you aren’t breathing through your nose, or you are breathing in spurts and sputters, it is easy to see that your breathing isn’t very smooth or proper. That doesn’t necessarily mean you suffer from sleep apnea, but it is a good indicator that the problem could exist.

Snore Microphone

This piece of equipment is obvious. It listens to you as you sleep so that the experts can hear how you snore. The pattern of snoring explains a lot about whether you have sleep apnea or not.

Treating Sleep Apnea

There are different levels of sleep apnea and the treatment that you can rely on depends on the severity of your condition. If you have a mild case of the disorder, you could probably fix the issue with minor changes in your life. Things like losing weight, staying away from alcohol around bedtime, and avoiding sleeping on your back can all help you fix the issue. These aren’t surefire methods to solve the problem, and often more serious measures must be taken.

Handling Serious Sleep Apnea

For more serious cases of sleep apnea, a CPAP machine can help solve the problem. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure, and it is a system that helps ensure that you maintain proper air flow throughout the night. The machine creates pressure in your mouth that prevents your airways from collapsing as you sleep. Dental devices are another option for treating more severe instances of sleep apnea. They hold your mouth in a specific position to keep your airways open during the night.

Surgery or Implant

There is also a surgery procedure for sleep apnea that will help clear your nose and improve airflow through it at night. This is a solution for people with a deviated septum or similar problems. It is also possible to remove the soft tissue at the back of the throat to open the airway further, but this isn’t a common surgical procedure.

Finally, there is an implant that can be installed known as the Inspire. This product is placed in the upper chest and generates a pulse that helps ensure the lungs offer a natural breathing pattern. You simply turn the unit on before bed and it helps with sleeping.

There are many ways to treat sleep apnea, but it is important to get diagnosed before you try and treat it. To get checked for the disorder, and find out how to fix it in Columbus, Ohio, contact Mark Levy, DDS, at (614) 777-7350.