Sleep apnea is a condition that goes widely undiagnosed. For many, the symptoms of sleep apnea are so common that they do not spark a large amount of worry or concern that requires medical attention. Instead, most sleep apneics simply live with or ignore the symptoms of the condition, but in the long run, this leads to all sorts of problems. Not only does the condition drain the body of much needed oxygen various times throughout the night, it can also cause moodiness, morning headaches, and sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation is a common for most people today. Recent studies have shown that at least 43% of adults suffer from sleep deprivation. While sleep apnea and sleep deprivation are not always linked, it is very common that a sleep apneic will suffer from sleep deprivation because of untreated sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea causes sleep deprivation because of the interruptions in the normal sleeping patterns that it creates when the sleep apneic stops breathing. When the apneic stops breathing, eventually the brain realizes it is in trouble and wakes up the individual just long enough for them to realize they need to breathe. This can happen hundreds of time every night. It’s no wonder why some sleep apnea sufferers wake up in the morning feel as though they never went to sleep.

Sleep is an important part of healthy living! Sleep deprivation has a variety of consequences that can effect you in all stages of your day and your life as a whole. Don’t let sleep apnea keep you from the sleep you need at night. Contact Dr. Berry’s office today to schedule an appointment to discuss sleep apnea and the treatment methods available to you.

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If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you surely know about the CPAP and you may even have personal experience using the machine. Insurance companies readily cover the CPAP machine because it has proven to be a very effective treatment method that is dependable for a safe night’s sleep.

Dr. Berry has found that while some patients do okay using CPAP to treat their sleep apnea, others simply do not experience much success, either due to discomfort of wearing the mask, the noise of the machine when a higher pressure setting is required, or for a variety (and often a combination) of other complaints. Because of these issues, many patients will opt to not use their CPAP. Some will look for CPAP alternatives, while others simply stop treatment. If you find that the CPAP is not the sleep apnea treatment for you, be aware that there are CPAP alternatives, and foregoing sleep apnea treatment is never a good idea because of the terrible stress it puts on your organs. Sleep apnea claims the lives of people every day, such as Rep. Robert Donatucci last fall, and countless others whose deaths are attributed to heart attacks or strokes that were probably due, at least in part, to sleep apnea.

Provent, oral appliance therapy, and other treatment options are all alternatives to using CPAP. Provent, one of the newest alternative sleep apnea treatments that is still in clinical trials, makes use of the patient’s own breathing pressure to avoid a collapsing, narrowing, or obstruction of the airway. Studies have proven the device to be very useful and Provent makers, Ventus, hope to have the device covered by medical insurance in the near future. The purpose of any and all of these devices, including oral appliance therapy, is to simply provide for another way to ensure all sleep apneics are able to find a sleep apnea treatment method that works for them.

Have you been prescribed CPAP in the past only to find that you do not fare well with it? Do you avoid using your CPAP because of the discomfort or noise that it causes? If so come to Dr. Berry, a trusted and experienced sleep apnea dentist who can provide you with a CPAP alternative. Don’t neglect treating your sleep apnea because you are CPAP-intolerant. There are other methods that will keep you sleeping soundly at night! Call our Denver office today at 303.759.5652 or schedule a consultation online.

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