Quality sleep is essential for good health. However, if you suffer from sleep apnea in Greenville, TX, you may experience a range of side effects, from brain fog to heart issues. At Greenville Pulmonary Associates, Dr. Mohan Philip is a specialist who can diagnose and treat sleep apnea so you can sleep peacefully through the night.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is when your soft palate blocks your airways or your tongue falls back into your throat. Blocked airways cause you to frequently wake up in the night. Because you frequently wake up, you never achieve the deep REM sleep required for proper rest and mental and physical healing every night. 

Sleep apnea can be caused by many reasons, such as obesity or a weak or injured soft palate — the soft tissue at the back of the roof of your mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities. When you breathe or eat, the uvula, at the tip of your soft palate, comes down over the airway so you can swallow. However, if this mechanism malfunctions, it can also block the airways when you're sleeping.

How Does It Affect Your Health?

A typical adult is supposed to get about 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. Children need deep sleep for proper development as growth hormones are mostly active at night. Your body mentally and physically replenishes itself every night when you're in deep sleep. Therefore, when you don't achieve proper sleep, you can throw your body out of whack.

Sleep apnea can cause deeper issues such as heart failure or heart attack as your blood pressure may rise every time you suddenly wake up. People may also experience depression or anxiety because their brains can never fully recharge at night. Poor sleep is linked to inflammation and weight gain. It can also exacerbate Type 2 diabetes as blood sugar levels can get out of control.

Can You Prevent or Treat It?

When you visit your specialist for help with sleep apnea, Dr. Philip may prescribe a CPAP machine that keeps your airways open at night. If that doesn't work, he can prescribe an oral device with the same effect. Sometimes, lifestyle modifications like losing weight and reducing stress levels can help reduce the likelihood of sleep apnea.

When you need help with sleep apnea in Greenville, TX, Dr. Philip at Greenville Pulmonary Associates is the one to see. Learn more and contact us at 903-454-9976 today.