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how did you identify your breathing issues? My new dentist referred me to an ENT due to thinking I may have sleep apnea, and I've been hesitant to go as I have

how did you identify your breathing issues? My new dentist referred me to an ENT due to thinking I may have sleep apnea, and I've been hesitant to go as I have no idea whether this is serious or some ploy to charge me for more stuff. I generally fall asleep within a few minutes, have energy throughout the day and never use caffeine, and get a full night's sleep on a typical night. I also have almost perfect dental health (knock on wood). I would be happy to resolve breathing issues but I'm skeptical of how serious it is given my circumstances.

Workaccount2 4y ago
I would go do it. You'll do a sleep study, nothing crazy. Sleep apnea can really jack up your heart if left untreated.
- silicon2401 4y ago
  Had no idea. I haven't thought of myself as having sleep issues, but if the potential consequences can be as bad as heart problems, then that's definitely worth investigating. Thanks a lot for the info, I'll find a time to make an appt now.
- MandieD 4y ago
  “Sleep apnea can really jack up your heart if left untreated” Maybe that will finally work to get my husband to discuss his painful-sounding snoring (with sudden stops) with a doctor and push to get sent for a sleep study!
  - joveian 4y ago
    Hopefully :). If it is long and severe enough snoring can physically damage all sorts of stuff (nerves, blood vessels, airway) similar to occupational vibration exposure. Changing sleeping position can help and can sometimes be enough in less severe cases (both apnea and snoring).
  - joeman1000 4y ago
    It effects your heart, brain and general health. It makes it harder to lose weight, store memories and generally live a fulfilling life. It sapped all of my energy for years. I had it as a young guy, starting at 18, only slightly overweight. I treated it by working towards a healthy BMI, getting rhino-septoplasty, using a CPAP machine and finally mouth-taping. Mouth-taping has replaced CPAP for me. It’s discussed more in James Nestor’s book ‘Breath’. Good luck to you and your husband.
hammock 4y ago
Do you wake up with a dry mouth? What an ENT will likely do is scope your sinuses (costs a chunk of change, but pretty cool and informative), and send you home with a self-administered sleep study that may catch sleep apnea if it exists.
- silicon2401 4y ago
  I do, though not every single morning. I've interpreted it to happen when the climate is drier, but I guess if we're even having this kind of discussion, I might as well just go to a professional and have them clear it up.
  - hammock 4y ago
    Not a doctor, but as I understand it your mouth really should not be open during sleep unless there is some level of dysfunction
    - silicon2401 4y ago
      That's also helpful to know, thanks for sharing. I think my mouth generally defaults to being open, and I always assumed that was just the natural consequence of gravity once I'm asleep and my face/mouth muscles relax. All the more reason to get that sleep study done lol
joeman1000 4y ago
It’s an insidious illness. I was mostly like you: no issues getting to sleep, no issues with teeth, no coffee. I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. My symptoms were lethargy and having major trouble studying. It caused me to drop out of university, not knowing the cause. It’s something that can slowly erode your heart health and actually starve your brain of oxygen each night. Get it checked!
- silicon2401 4y ago
  Jeez, thanks so much for sharing your experience. I genuinely thought the worst consequence would be trouble sleeping or dental health, so since I (knock on wood) don't perceive myself to have those issues, I totally shrugged it off. Again, thank you; I'm definitely going to get it checked.

Workaccount2 4y ago

I would go do it. You'll do a sleep study, nothing crazy. Sleep apnea can really jack up your heart if left untreated.

silicon2401 4y ago
Had no idea. I haven't thought of myself as having sleep issues, but if the potential consequences can be as bad as heart problems, then that's definitely worth investigating. Thanks a lot for the info, I'll find a time to make an appt now.
MandieD 4y ago
“Sleep apnea can really jack up your heart if left untreated” Maybe that will finally work to get my husband to discuss his painful-sounding snoring (with sudden stops) with a doctor and push to get sent for a sleep study!
- joveian 4y ago
  Hopefully :). If it is long and severe enough snoring can physically damage all sorts of stuff (nerves, blood vessels, airway) similar to occupational vibration exposure. Changing sleeping position can help and can sometimes be enough in less severe cases (both apnea and snoring).
- joeman1000 4y ago
  It effects your heart, brain and general health. It makes it harder to lose weight, store memories and generally live a fulfilling life. It sapped all of my energy for years. I had it as a young guy, starting at 18, only slightly overweight. I treated it by working towards a healthy BMI, getting rhino-septoplasty, using a CPAP machine and finally mouth-taping. Mouth-taping has replaced CPAP for me. It’s discussed more in James Nestor’s book ‘Breath’. Good luck to you and your husband.

hammock 4y ago

Do you wake up with a dry mouth? What an ENT will likely do is scope your sinuses (costs a chunk of change, but pretty cool and informative), and send you home with a self-administered sleep study that may catch sleep apnea if it exists.

silicon2401 4y ago
I do, though not every single morning. I've interpreted it to happen when the climate is drier, but I guess if we're even having this kind of discussion, I might as well just go to a professional and have them clear it up.
- hammock 4y ago
  Not a doctor, but as I understand it your mouth really should not be open during sleep unless there is some level of dysfunction
  - silicon2401 4y ago
    That's also helpful to know, thanks for sharing. I think my mouth generally defaults to being open, and I always assumed that was just the natural consequence of gravity once I'm asleep and my face/mouth muscles relax. All the more reason to get that sleep study done lol

joeman1000 4y ago

It’s an insidious illness. I was mostly like you: no issues getting to sleep, no issues with teeth, no coffee. I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. My symptoms were lethargy and having major trouble studying. It caused me to drop out of university, not knowing the cause. It’s something that can slowly erode your heart health and actually starve your brain of oxygen each night. Get it checked!

silicon2401 4y ago
Jeez, thanks so much for sharing your experience. I genuinely thought the worst consequence would be trouble sleeping or dental health, so since I (knock on wood) don't perceive myself to have those issues, I totally shrugged it off. Again, thank you; I'm definitely going to get it checked.