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Posts Tagged ‘Sleep apnoea treatment City of Leeds’

How to Spot the Signs of Sleep Apnoea

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016

4443553_blogEven an isolated bad night can leave you feeling tired and lethargic for days. If you regularly struggle with sleep, this can have serious implications for your physical and mental health. Sleep apnoea is a potentially severe sleep disorder, which can contribute to disturbed nights of sleep for you and those around you. If you’re worried about sleep apnoea or you frequently find yourself experiencing breathing difficulties during the night, we may be able to help.

Spotting the signs of sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea is not the same as snoring, but heavy and frequent snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnoea. Apnoea is characterised by episodes of interrupted breathing, which occur as a result of the airways becoming blocked. Apnoea is defined by episodes that last 10 seconds or longer.

In addition to loud, heavy breathing, sleep apnoea may also cause gasping for breath and repeated snorting.

How we can help

In milder cases of sleep apnoea, we may be able to help restore peace and quiet to your bedroom by providing custom-designed devices that help to keep the airways open while you sleep. We fit the device to ensure that it is comfortable and then schedule follow-up appointments to see how you’re getting on.

We can also offer advice about lifestyle changes that may help to prevent snoring and sleep apnoea, such as giving up smoking, losing weight by adopting a healthy eating and exercise plan and changing your sleeping position.

In more severe cases, it may be necessary to employ more intensive treatment, such as wearing a breathing mask at night and you will be advised to seek medical advice from your GP.

If you would like advice about snoring or sleep apnoea or you’re worried about disrupted sleep patterns, call us today and arrange a consultation.

The Dangers Lurking Behind Sleep Apnoea

Saturday, July 25th, 2015

4443553_blogMany people snore without really thinking about it, but if you snore on a regular basis, gasp for breath or regularly wake feeling like you’ve had a restless night, this could be a sign of sleep apnoea. Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder that causes interrupted breathing. It can potentially be very serious and should therefore be carefully managed. If you suffer with sleepless nights, we are here to help – call today to book an appointment.

What exactly is sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder that occurs when the airway becomes obstructed for longer than 10 seconds. This results in interrupted breathing, shortness of breath and gasping for air while you sleep. Loud snoring is often a common symptom.

Sleep apnoea can range from mild to severe. In the most serious cases, it can even be fatal.

What causes sleep apnoea?

The main risk factors for sleep apnoea include:

  • being overweight
  • having a large neck circumference
  • family history
  • smoking
  • drinking alcohol

Treating sleep apnoea

There are various treatment options when it comes to sleep apnoea, including lifestyle changes such as losing weight, doing more exercise, giving up smoking and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, especially at night. In more severe cases, additional treatment may be required and this can involve taking medication and using a breathing mask to ensure constant air flow while you sleep. This form of treatment is known as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). At City Dental, we also recommend the use of custom-made mandibular advancement devices, which are suited to those with mild or moderate symptoms. These devices hold the jaw in a forward position, keeping the airway open and facilitating oxygen flow.

What Are the Risks of Sleep Apnoea

Thursday, July 16th, 2015

4443553_blogAt City Dental Leeds, we don’t just look after teeth and gums, we also provide treatment for sleep disorders such as snoring and sleep apnoea. If you’re struggling with sleep, we can help.

What is sleep apnoea and what risks does it pose?

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder that affects breathing. It can be very serious and even life-threatening in severe cases. Apnoea is classed as interrupted breathing for 10 second periods and it is caused by the airway becoming obstructed. This obstruction reduces airflow and decreases the amount of oxygen travelling around the body.

The most common signs of sleep apnoea are gasping for breath, heavy breathing, loud snoring and struggling to breathe while you sleep. It is also very common to wake during the night and to wake up in the morning feeling like you’ve not slept well. Many people suffer from daytime tiredness and a loss of concentration as a result of disturbed sleep patterns at night.

Possible complications of sleep apnoea include:

  • high blood pressure
  • increased risk of accidents (caused by slow reactions, tiredness and reduced cognitive function associated with lack of sleep)
  • diabetes

What causes sleep apnoea and what can be done to help?

The most common risk factors for sleep apnoea include:

  • being overweight
  • having extra fat around the neck
  • drinking alcohol
  • smoking
  • family history
  • taking sedatives or sleeping tablets

Often, making positive lifestyle choices such as doing more exercise, eating a healthy diet, giving up smoking, losing weight and cutting out alcohol in the evenings can help to reduce symptoms. However, in some cases additional treatment may be recommended. In severe cases, a form of treatment known as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is recommended. This involves wearing a mask that helps you to breathe during the night. In milder cases, we can provide a mandibular advancement appliance, which is a custom-made device that moves the lower jaw forward slightly to increase airflow. By adjusting the position of the jaw, the airway remains open while you sleep.

Six Signs of Sleep Apnoea

Saturday, June 20th, 2015

4443553_blogSleep apnoea is a sleep disorder that can potentially be very serious. It causes disrupted breathing as a result of the airway becoming blocked when you sleep. If you’re suffering from sleepless nights and you’re not sure why, here are six signs of sleep apnoea to look out for:

  1. Gasping for breath and shortness of breath: if you struggle to breathe while you are asleep, you may find that you wake yourself up gasping for air and experience shortness of breath. Your partner may also spot this if you fail to wake up.
  2. Snoring: snoring is not the same as sleep apnoea, but it is often symptomatic of the disorder, particularly in cases where snoring is loud and persistent.
  3. Loud, heavy breathing: sleep apnoea makes it difficult to breathe and this often means that breathing sounds heavy and laboured.
  4. Feeling tired during the day: sleep apnoea disrupts sleep, which affects your quality and quantity of sleep and may make you feel tired and lethargic during the day. Often, people who have sleep apnoea feel like they’ve not slept well when they wake up in the morning.
  5. Night sweats: waking during the night needing to urinate and night sweats may be symptomatic of sleep apnoea.
  6. Headaches: headaches, particularly in the morning, may be a sign of sleep apnoea.

Treating sleep apnoea

In many cases, there are lifestyle factors that contribute to sleep apnoea and making positive changes such as losing weight, doing more frequent exercise, giving up smoking and cutting down alcohol intake during the evening can help. We also provide custom-made devices to open up the airway while you sleep. These appliances, known as mandibular advancement devices, move the lower jaw forward slightly, which ensures the airway remains open and increases airflow.

If you recognise some of the symptoms listed above and you think you may have sleep apnoea, call us today to book an appointment.

How to Identify the Symptoms of Sleep Apnoea

Friday, May 8th, 2015

4443553_blogIf you struggle with breathing difficulties while you sleep, you may have sleep apnoea. This sleep disorder can prevent you and those around from enjoying a good night’s sleep, but help is at hand. Here are some tips to help you recognise the signs and symptoms of sleep apnoea and some treatment options you may wish to consider:

Spotting the signs of sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea is a disorder that affects your ability to breathe normally when you sleep. It is causes you to become short of breath and results from the airway becoming obstructed. The airway becomes blocked because the muscles in the throat relax. Apnoea is diagnosed when the airway is blocked for 10 seconds or longer.

Sometimes, the symptoms of sleep apnoea are difficult to notice and in many cases they may be spotted by your partner. The most common signs of sleep apnoea include:

  • gasping for breath
  • snoring (often loudly)
  • breathing very heavily
  • interrupted breathing

You may also find that you wake up regularly during the night and you feel tired in the daytime. It’s common for those with sleep apnoea to suffer from tiredness during the day and to wake up feeling like they haven’t had a good night’s sleep. Sleep apnoea may also contribute to a heightened risk of complications including depression, loss of libido, loss of memory and difficulty with concentration.

In severe cases, sleep apnoea can be fatal and it requires treatment. If you think you may have sleep apnoea, you should arrange to see your GP or your dentist.

Treating sleep apnoea

In minor cases of sleep apnoea, you can often reduce or even eliminate symptoms by making lifestyle changes. The main risk factors for sleep apnoea are drinking alcohol, smoking and being overweight. Losing weight by adopting a healthy diet and exercising, avoid alcohol in the evenings and quitting smoking can all make a massive difference to overall health, a swell as sleep apnoea symptoms. We can also provide mandibular advancement devices, which are appliances that keep the airway open by moving the lower jaw forward slightly.

How to Tell if You Have Sleep Apnoea

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

4443553_blogAt City Dental Leeds, we don’t just have your smile in mind. We also provide a range of treatments to boost your health and wellbeing, including treatment for bruxism, TMJ disorder, snoring and sleep apnoea.

What is sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is a disorder that occurs when the airway becomes blocked while you are asleep. This causes breathing to be interrupted and oxygen flow into the body to be reduced. In severe cases, sleep apnoea can be life-threatening. The term apnoea applies to periods of 10 seconds or longer when the airway is completed obstructed.

How do I know if I have sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is not the same as snoring. However, frequent snoring can be a sign of sleep apnoea. Other possible symptoms include struggling for breath while you sleep, gasping for air, feeling tired and like you haven’t had a good sleep when you wake up and heavy breathing. Sometimes, it may be other people who point out symptoms, as you may not be aware of them while you are semi-conscious.

Other possible signs of sleep apnoea include night sweats and waking up during the night on a frequent basis to urinate.

Risk factors for sleep apnoea

The main risk factors for sleep apnoea include:

  • being overweight or obese
  • drinking alcohol
  • smoking
  • having a large neck circumference
  • age: people who are aged over 40 years old have a higher risk of sleep apnoea
  • gender: males are more likely to suffer from sleep apnoea than females
  • taking some types of medication, including sleeping tablets

Treating sleep apnoea

There are various options available for people who have sleep apnoea, from basic lifestyle changes to using breathing apparatus during the night. In mild cases, making positive lifestyle choices and minor changes to your bedtime routine can help to reduce symptoms, while in more severe cases, ongoing treatment may be required. We are able to provide patients with custom-made appliances that help to keep the airway open during the night.

If you think you may have sleep apnoea, call now and make an appointment.

Sleep Without Apnoea with Our Amazing Treatments

Friday, March 13th, 2015

4443553_blogStruggling to sleep can really take its toll. If you’re having a tough time because of sleep apnoea, we can help.

Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to be disrupted as a result of the airway becoming blocked. Apnoea is used to describe episodes of interrupted breathing that last 10 seconds or longer.

What causes sleep apnoea?

There are various different risk factors for sleep apnoea and in most cases, the disorder affects people who are overweight, smokers and those who drink alcohol, especially late at night. Taking some forms of medication can also contribute to breathing problems during sleep.  This condition is most common among men aged between 30 and 60 years old.

Sleep apnoea occurs when the muscles in the throat relax to such an extent that the airway becomes obstructed. In some cases, it can be very serious and potentially life-threatening. In this instance, breathing apparatus is usually recommended to facilitate breathing while you are asleep.

How we can help

Often, the first step in sleep apnoea treatment is to identify possible lifestyle changes that could reduce symptoms. These changes might include giving up smoking, doing regular exercise and eating well to lose weight and avoiding drinking during the evenings.

We can provide advice and information to help you achieve these positive lifestyle changes and we can also offer custom-made treatments in the form of appliances designed to improve breathing patterns while you are asleep. One device that has proven very effective is a mandibular advancement device, which is used to increase air flow and prevent obstruction. This device works by adjusting the position of the lower jaw. It moves it forward slightly to make it easier to breathe.

If you have sleep apnoea and you’re desperate for a good night’ sleep, call us today. Our treatments help to tackle symptoms, give you peace of mind and put a stop to sleepless nights.

The Dangers of Sleep Apnoea and Heart Failure in the City of Leeds

Monday, March 5th, 2012

Sleep apnoea is the night-time disease that is responsible for many sudden nocturnal deaths and auto-mobile accidents.  It is caused by the relaxation of tissues in the throat whilst sleeping and results in frequent pauses in breath. In actual fact, snoring, a common problem for many people, can be a precursor or companion to sleep apnoea as it is caused by the vibrations of the same tissues in the throat. Unfortunately, as it is a night-time disease, it is very hard to identify and diagnose, leading to many sufferers who are unaware that they are even at risk of the dangerous side-effects.

Sleep apnoea greatly increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, this is caused by the frequent periods of no respiration. Oxygen levels in the body decrease and in turn stimulate the blood vessels to constrict and bring blood back to the heart and brain, in order to conserve the most important organs.

Heart failure can be caused by sleep apnoea purely through the strain this puts on the heart. Thoriac pressure is greatly elevated in patients with this disorder and that alone can put the heart at risk. In addition, the sudden and aggressive rise in blood pressure can cause the damaging or blocking of important blood vessels that deliver oxygen to the heart. Finally, a decrease in oxygen content in the body can cause the tissues of the heart to become damaged and die, or can cause a stroke due to lack of oxygen being delivered to the brain. If you are concerned about sleep apnoea, consult your local doctor from the City of Leeds.