Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease – Bethesda, MD
Healthy Sleep for a Healthy Heart
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Whether you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or central sleep apnea, this can lead to a variety of serious health consequences. In fact, sleep apnea dramatically increases your probability of developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. To learn more about the relationship between sleep apnea and heart disease, read on or give us a call to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Bethesda Center for Dental Sleep Medicine & TMJ Therapy for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
- High-Quality, Customized Oral Appliances
- We Accept Medicare, TriCare, VA, Cigna, & BlueCross Insurance
- Flexible Financing Options Available
The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease
When breathing ceases as a person is sleeping, this causes blood pressure to increase and the oxygen level in the blood to fall. The brain is then alerted and sends a message through the nervous system telling blood vessels to constrict to increase the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain. The real problem is that this continues to happen throughout the day, even if you are breathing normally.
How to Improve Your Sleep and Protect Your Heart
It’s important to stop this cycle of high blood pressure and low oxygen levels. At Bethesda Center for Dental Sleep Medicine & TMJ, we provide oral appliance therapy to reposition the jaw during sleep. This helps to keep the airway from collapsing during the night. Evidence has shown that using an oral appliance for sleep apnea helps to lower blood pressure at night and during the day! Some patients see success through combination therapy – a combination of CPAP therapy and oral appliance therapy.
How Does Sleep Apnea Treatment Work?
To get treatment for sleep apnea, the first step is to confirm that this is what’s causing your symptoms. You will need to schedule an appointment with us to get started. If you have sleep apnea, we can help you get your sleep disorder under control with combined therapy or oral appliance therapy. These involve wearing a custom-made appliance that can help you breathe easier without interruption as you sleep. To learn more about your options, give us a call to schedule an appointment. We’re eager to help you get the sound sleep you deserve.