Getting good sleep is very important, especially to athletes who compete in various sports. Sleep is good for our bodies because it allows us to rest and replenish our strength, so we can perform our best on the playing field when we compete. But sleep can also be challenging for many people – myself included!
Recently, I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Though I never thought I would struggle with this condition, it’s starting to make a lot of sense as to why I have it. According to the National Institute of Health, “Sleep apnea is a common condition in which your breathing stops and restarts many times while you sleep. This can prevent your body from getting enough oxygen.”
The main thing I want people to be aware of is not to be afraid of this diagnosis, as there are many things doctors can do to treat it. If treated, you will be able to get a greater quality of sleep and have a lot more energy.
It all started when my dentist recommended that I get a sleep study done to find out what was causing me to have something called “sleep bruxism,” or grinding one’s teeth at night. I then set up an appointment with the Pulmonary Associates of Richmond, who are Lung and Sleep Specialists. They had me wear a device on my wrist a bit like a smart watch and one on my finger overnight, which monitored my breathing patterns. Once I woke up, I would turn off the device and drop it off at their office, so they could read the data. It took a while, but once they had reviewed all the data, they let me know that it was indeed sleep apnea and that I would need to wear one of these two devices.
The first is a CPAP, which is a machine that uses mild air pressure to keep your breathing airways open while you sleep. The air that is provided comes through a mask that can cover the nose or both the nose and the mouth. The images below show what the CPAP looks like. As you can see, it comes in many different forms.
The second option is to have a dental appliance made specifically for me by my dentist that would rest on the bottom of my upper and lower jaw, preventing my teeth from touching.
After much discussion with my dentist, my parents and I decided to go the route of having the dental appliance made. This was a very good thing, because by having this device in my mouth it helps to open my airways, allowing me to breathe properly at night. (Here is a picture below of what this device looks like.)
Example of dental appliance for sleep apnea
There are two different types of sleep apnea. The first type is the most common, which is called obstructive sleep apnea. This is when your upper airway becomes blocked many times while you sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow. Anything that could narrow your airway such as being overweight, having large tonsils, or changes in your hormone levels can increase the risk of you having this. Symptoms of this can include snoring, morning headaches, chronic daytime sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, or impaired concentration.
The second type that people can have is called central sleep apnea. This happens when your brain does not send the signals needed for you to breathe. Medical conditions that affect how your brain controls your airway and chest muscles can cause this type of sleep apnea. Common symptoms of this type of sleep apnea include observed episodes of not breathing during sleep, sudden awakenings with shortness of breath, insomnia, hypersomnia, trouble focusing, mood changes, morning headaches and snoring.
If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, it’s good to see a doctor so they can run some tests. They may recommend a sleep study, which you can do at home or in an office. Either way, it is worth a try!
