There’s no relationship that’s closer than that between you and your spouse. You share everything – including the quality of your sleep each night! Unfortunately, that means that sleep disorders in one partner not only affect their energy levels and overall quality of life – but that of their spouse as well. Sleep apnea in State College is one of these disorders that causes restless nights and daytime fatigue, as well as more serious health consequences such as heart disease, stroke and depression. So, what’s the best way to help your spouse with sleep apnea? A great first step is encouraging them to get treatment. Learn more below about the treatment options and how you can support your spouse in finding the one that’s right for them!
What Are the Treatment Options For Sleep Apnea?
For many years, the only treatments for sleep apnea were either surgery or a CPAP machine. Although surgery is necessary sometimes, it’s also more invasive than many people would like.
CPAP machines are bulky and hard to get used to, not to mention noisy. Many patients have a hard time complying with treatment because they can’t sleep comfortably with a CPAP.
While these treatments may be recommended in severe cases of sleep apnea, there’s an easier, less-invasive option that’s really effective for mild to moderate cases: oral appliances.
Custom-made by a dentist, these lightweight, portable devices work by repositioning the jaws to open the airway. They’re much easier to tolerate than CPAP devices, which makes it more likely that patients with sleep apnea will comply with treatment.
How Can You Help Your Spouse Get Sleep Apnea Treatment?
The first step in helping your spouse get treatment is to simply have a conversation about your concerns. Let them know that you want to improve their quality of life and decrease their risk factors for the many diseases associated with sleep apnea. It’s also helpful to let them know that effective treatment is a lot easier than they might have realized.
The next step is getting diagnosed. One easy way to do this is to schedule an initial screening with a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea treatment, who can then refer them to a facility that conducts sleep studies. Once a diagnosis has been made they can recommend the right oral appliance for them.
Sleep apnea treatment has come a long way in recent years. There’s no reason that your spouse (or you) should have to suffer through another restless night!
About the Author
Dr. Donald Marks is a general and restorative dentist in State College with a particular interest in sleep apnea. He knows how much it can adversely affect his patient’s lives and is happy to offer simple, non-invasive solutions to restore their quality of life. If you think your spouse might have sleep apnea and have any additional questions, he can be reached via his website or at (814) 234-0329.