If you suspect you have sleep apnea or have been diagnosed with this sleeping disorder, you might wonder if it can be cured. Generally speaking, sleep apnea cannot be cured. However, it can be effectively treated and well-managed with the right treatment options.
An excellent place to start for sleep apnea treatment options is a dentist. They may be able to determine less invasive therapies that work for you so that you aren't experiencing any symptoms.
Will Sleep Apnea Resolve on Its Own?
It's very rare for adult sleep apnea in adults to resolve on its own unless you take active steps to improve breathing during sleep. You can typically expect sleep apnea to continue, along with poor sleep and possibly severe health complications without treatment.
For some people, specific treatments, such as surgery to modify tissues near the airway or substantial weight loss, may eliminate the severe airway blockages that cause sleep apnea. Unfortunately, sleep apnea does not usually go away naturally; instead, different targeted approaches can decrease its impact on your health and well-being. While this sometimes resolves the condition entirely, in most adults, sleep apnea symptoms need to be managed on an ongoing basis.
Can You Cure Sleep Apnea?
It's quite uncommon to be able to cure sleep apnea. However, many options exist to manage this disorder effectively, so it has little to no impact on your everyday life. These options include:
- A mouthguard or nightguard
- A custom-fitted oral appliance
- CPAP or PAP
- Decongestants
- Surgery
However, some patients may be able to get rid of their sleep apnea for good by losing weight and making different lifestyle choices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sleep Apnea
What Happens if Sleep Apnea Goes Untreated?
Unfortunately, if left untreated, sleep apnea side effects will often disrupt your daily life as it impacts your overall health and productivity. If left untreated, sleep apnea can potentially cause the following:
- Low energy and decreased work performance and productivity
- Anxiety and mood swings
- Irritability
- Diabetes caused by the body's inability to regulate insulin
- Hypertension since the heart has to exert more energy to pump oxygen through the body during sleep
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
At its most basic, sleep apnea is a partial or complete stopping of breath during sleep. In turn, this causes the body to strain harder for oxygen, causing the brain to send signals to jerk your body awake to resume proper breathing again.
Sleep apnea is sometimes caused by the over-relaxation of the throat muscles, causing them to block the upper airway, which then keeps oxygen from entering the lungs. Faulty signaling by the brain, which causes intermittent pauses in breath, is another cause of sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Solutions at The Smile Architects
At The Smile Architects, we care not only about healthy white smiles but also your overall health. If you are experiencing sleep apnea symptoms or otherwise think you might have this problem, discuss it with one of your experienced dental care providers right away. We may be able to offer you solutions to get your sleep and health back on track. Call 704-875-1621 today to schedule an appointment.