When it’s time for bed, you may want to ensure that you have an undisturbed night. You’ll want to feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle the day ahead. However, getting the rest you deserve can be harder if you have sleep apnea. Not only can you wake up feeling more tired, but so can your partner! Over time, this condition can impact your romantic, social, and professional life in several ways. Here’s how and what you can do to treat it.
What is Sleep Apnea?
As a quick reminder, sleep apnea is when you stop breathing for multiple episodes during the night. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of it, and this is when your throat muscles relax and fully or partially block the airway. Some symptoms of it include:
- Loud snoring
- Dry mouth when waking up
- Trouble staying asleep
- Excessive daytime drowsiness
- Issues with paying attention and concentration
- Mood changes and irritability
OSA’s Effect on Intimate Relationships
If you have sleep apnea and snore loudly throughout the night, then you may be accidentally keeping your loved one up. While you won’t get the rest you need, they won’t either, leading to both of you being more tired and irritable during the day. The bad mood and exhaustion can put a strain on your relationship, potentially leading to sleeping in separate rooms.
Not only that, but OSA can also affect physical intimacy. Men may be more likely to experience erectile dysfunction, and women may have a decreased libido.
OSA’s Impact on Your Friendships
Even outside your home, sleep apnea can have an impact. You’ll be more tired, so you may not feel up to socializing with your friends. Anxiety and depression can also worsen with this condition, making you break away from them even more. Without maintaining your platonic relationships, your connection with them may start to dwindle.
OSA and Your Work Life
Your exhaustion may also cause trouble at work. You may not be as efficient as you were before and fall behind. These can make your coworkers concerned about what you bring to the table.
How Can I Get Treated for My Sleep Apnea?
In the end, sleep apnea can have many real impacts on your interpersonal relationships and work life, so it’s important you seek professional treatment. Your dentist can help confirm a diagnosis with a sleep study and then give you an effective solution for it.
CPAP machines are the classic choice, but they are often loud or uncomfortable for many people. Instead, your provider can offer you an oral appliance. This is a customized device that sits over your teeth. It slightly shifts your lower jaw forward, helping keep your airways open while you sleep. That way, you get the undisturbed rest you need that’ll not only support your own health, but your social life as well.
About the Practice
At Creekview Family Dentistry, you benefit from a skilled team of dentists who look after you and your oral health. We are dedicated to helping the Lewisville community with their sleep apnea by offering reliable treatment options like a Dream TAP oral appliance. By custom-making it for your smile, you can trust it’s comfortable to wear during the night. If you or your loved one tends to snore, schedule an appointment or call our office at (972) 459-1100.