Sleep breathing disorders may masquerade as insomnia. Your dentist near Antioch can find the underlying cause of sleep loss

Insomnia, or the inability to sleep soundly, affects many people at some point in their lives. Most often, insomnia will be a temporary disruption, perhaps during a time of stress or because of certain types of food. When sound sleep is not attainable, there may be something more than standard insomnia causing it. Often, sleep breathing disorders like obstructive sleep apnea are the cause of restlessness.

In our office near Antioch, we help patients discover the cause of sleeplessness and provide comfortable treatment for sleep apnea. We understand the vital importance of sleep, and know that sleep loss can affect every area of a person's life. Without the right amount of sleep, our personality can change, causing difficulties at work and at home. The first step in finding the right treatment is to examine the severity of the problem.

Some of the signs that you're not getting enough sleep include:

• You feel extremely tired throughout the day, regardless of what you are doing.
• You have a hard time completing tasks as needed at work or at home.
• You are easily irritated
• You feel depressed
• You doze off at work, in front of the television, or even at stoplights.

Signs that sleep apnea could be behind insomnia include:

• You snore loudly.
• Snoring is interrupted by long pauses, followed by gasping or choking sounds.
• You frequently wake with a sore throat or headache.
• You have a large neck circumference.

The problem with sleep-disordered breathing like obstructive sleep apnea is that many people are unaware of the severity of their problem. Although it is commonly understood that we need sleep in order to remain healthy, there are challenges when it comes to determining just why we are not sleeping.

Snoring, especially loudly, could be a sign that sleep apnea is causing sleep deprivation. Many people who snore think that this is their primary problem. It is important to understand that, although they may sound similar, sleep apnea is far different from snoring. With sleep apnea, breathing completely stops for 10 seconds or more, whereas when someone snores, he or she is still moving air.

You can determine if you are affected by sleep apnea even if you sleep alone. If you experience the signs we have mentioned, we encourage you to schedule a visit with Dr. Alkhoury for a thorough evaluation and exploration of treatment options.

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