For athletes, pushing your body to the limits is, well, to use a sports metaphor, “par for the course”. After all, you can’t up your game if you aren’t trying to improve your skills. But what happens if you’re doing everything right and still not making any gains? If you’re an athlete who suffers from sleep apnea, this serious condition could be holding you back- and not just on the field. Here’s a closer look at the dangerous effects this disorder could have on your game and on your health in general!
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder which causes the patient to struggle to breathe during sleep. The most common type of this condition is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). With OSA, the airway collapses when the body reclines, causing the patient to gasp and choke for air during rest. This can lead to low blood oxygen levels, as well as repeated waking throughout the night. In fact, often patients with OSA think they’re getting a full eight or more hours of sleep but don’t even realize they’ve woken dozens of times during that period!
In addition to the poor sleep quality, OSA can also cause a variety of other serious complications, including high blood pressure, cognitive impairment, and it has also been found to worsen the severity of a variety of systemic issues like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
How Does Sleep Deprivation Affect Athletic Performance?
For athletes, sleep apnea can cause a variety of challenges, including exhaustion, delayed reaction times, and it can even slow the body’s natural ability to restore and heal itself, all of which are essential for optimal performance.
Could I Have OSA?
Diagnosing and treating OSA can often be difficult, because in many cases, patients don’t realize they are suffering from some of the main symptoms. These include things like snoring, gasping or choking for air, morning headaches or sore throat, and problems with concentration. For athletes, it can be even harder to recognize OSA symptoms, because many of them mimic athletic exhaustion, and because OSA is traditionally attributed to older or overweight people and not younger, active individuals in otherwise good health.
How Can My Dentist Treat My Sleep Apnea?
If you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, or suspect you may have it, the first step is to reach out to your sleep dentist. If you need testing, they can easily arrange a sleep study for you, or they can work with previously recorded results. Then, once they have a better understanding of your specific condition, they can recommend an appropriate treatment plan, which may include a CPAP machine, an oral sleep appliance, or a combination of both. These solutions are designed to help open the airway during rest, so you get the appropriate amount of oxygen while you sleep and can give your best performance on and off the field when you’re awake!
Remember, sleep apnea is a serious condition that can harm your athletic performance and complicate your mental and physical health. To learn more about how treating this disorder can improve your gains while at work, play, or rest, schedule a consultation with your sleep dentist today!
About Our Practice
At SleepMed Solutions, we’re all about solving problems. After all, it’s in our name! If you’ve been working hard to improve your skills both on and off the court but aren’t seeing the appropriate results, it could be due to sleep apnea. To learn more about this condition and to see if treatment can help you get the rest you deserve to power through your day, schedule a consultation for sleep apnea treatment by visiting our website or calling 336-907-7773.