Sleep apnea is a dangerous medical condition that interrupts breathing dozens of times each night. This robs you of rest and can lead to serious health problems, such as heart conditions, stroke, diabetes, and dementia. This is why it’s important to receive care from a team of specialists well-versed in both Sleep Apnea and TMJ Clinic Glastonbury, CT. This can ensure that treatments are tailored to address the unique needs of each patient and promote successful outcomes.

Our goal is to help you find a permanent solution. We offer a variety of treatments, including oral appliances.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of this disorder and occurs when your upper airway becomes blocked many times during your sleeping hours, reducing or stopping airflow. This type of sleep apnea can cause a variety of symptoms including fragmented, unrefreshing sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea can also lead to more serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

In order to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, a GP may refer you to a specialist sleep clinic where you will be given devices that monitor things like your breathing and heartbeat overnight while you are sleeping. These can be worn at home or in a specialist sleep clinic.

Treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea include lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol intake. Some people with obstructive sleep apnea find that they feel better after following their treatment plan for three to six months. They may need to repeat the sleep study to check how well they are responding to treatment.

Central Sleep Apnea

The pauses in breathing that characterize central sleep apnea occur when the brain fails to send regular signals to your muscles to breathe. This condition can lead to low blood oxygen levels and can cause heart problems or stroke. It can also increase your risk for accidents at work or in the car. Excessive daytime sleepiness can make it hard to concentrate.

Central sleep apnea can have different causes. Some people develop CSA idiopathically, meaning it has no known cause. Other people develop CSA due to another medical condition, such as heart disease or spinal cord injury.

A doctor can diagnose CSA by asking questions about symptoms and conducting a physical exam. The patient may also need to undergo a sleep study. If CSA is caused by a health problem, treatment typically focuses on treating the medical issue that is causing the abnormal breathing. Medications that stimulate breathing or improve blood flow to the brain may be used. Surgically implanted devices such as the Remedies System are also available to help people with central sleep apnea breathe more regularly during sleep.

Mixed Sleep Apnea

If you think you have mild sleep apnea or moderate sleep apnea, it’s important to see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. This is especially true if you have a family history of the condition or a serious medical problem like heart disease or diabetes, which can be made worse by sleep apnea.

Mild sleep apnea is characterized by pauses in breathing for a few seconds, occurring a few times per hour. Moderate is defined as five to 15 episodes an hour and severe is 30 or more episodes per hour.

The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive, which is caused by blockage of the airway. However, it’s possible to have both obstructive and central sleep apnea or CSA, which is less common and involves the brain failing to send proper signals to the breathing muscles. Both of these conditions can cause health complications over time, including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

TMJ

If you snore loudly or wake up feeling tired, you may suffer from sleep apnea. It’s a dangerous condition that can rob you of rest and increase your risk for serious health problems. Our team offers advanced services that can help you stop snoring, get a better night’s sleep, and avoid long-term consequences.

TMJ disorders affect the jaw joint and muscles responsible for jaw movement. These conditions can cause pain in the face, jaw, neck, and shoulders. They can also contribute to airway obstruction and increase the risk of sleep apnea. TMJ disorders and sleep apnea are linked because they share several common risk factors and symptoms. For example, people with misaligned bites are more likely to experience TMJ disorder and may clench or grind their teeth (bruxism) during sleep, aggravating the condition.