Whether you’ve decided to fight the signs of aging or are choosing to “age gracefully,” your sleep patterns can play a role in how old you look and feel. If you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), your inability to breathe and achieve a full night’s rest can take its toll on your body and brain, even causing you to age faster. Discover the role OSA plays and what you and your dentist can do to help you reclaim a more youthful self.
What is the Link Between OSA & Your Age?
Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have discovered that the biological aging process accelerates in patients with OSA.
This is often due to environmental factors, including pollution, an unhealthy diet, and bad habits (smoking), but it is also linked to the effects of OSA. When an individual is unable to breathe due to airway obstruction, their oxygen levels remain low, accelerating biological aging.
Not only does sleep apnea (in any form) cause increased inflammation throughout the body, but it also leads to hormonal imbalances, cellular aging, and enhanced facial aging. When you combine these issues and how they affect your overall health and wellness, it’s easy to see why you may begin to age faster if you suffer from sleep apnea.
What Can Your Dentist Do to Help Address Sleep Apnea?
Knowing whether you have sleep apnea is the first step. This includes recognizing symptoms such as chronic snoring, fatigue, irritability, frequent nighttime awakenings, gasping for air, forgetfulness, and more.
A sleep study will determine whether you, in fact, have OSA, at which time you can schedule an appointment with your dentist to discuss treatment options. While CPAP therapy is most common, many professionals and patients are turning to oral appliance therapy (OAT).
As a more portable, easier-to-use alternative to CPAP devices, these oral appliances are fully customized and designed to slightly advance the jaw to prevent airway obstruction.
With the right dental professional and a custom device, you will not only begin to sleep through the night but also work to turn back the clock on aging.
About Grand Dental – Channahon
Sleep apnea treatment is available at Grand Dental – Channahon for patients with OSA and similar conditions. When frequent interruptions, such as airway obstructions, keep you up at night, you will notice how difficult daily life can be. Fortunately, our trusted experts are here to provide oral appliances that reposition your jaw, so you get the sleep you need while breathing freely. If you’re ready to get a good night’s rest, visit our website or call (815) 467-1111 to schedule a consultation.