Sleep is essential for overall health, but when sleep apnea enters the picture, it can turn restful nights into fractured, unhealthy experiences. This condition, characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, takes a significant toll on your sleep cycles and overall well-being.
At Best Sleep Today in Grapevine, TX—also serving nearby Colleyville and Southlake—Dr. Scott Mason specializes in helping patients restore healthy sleep using simple, effective treatments like oral appliances. Read on to learn how sleep apnea disrupts your sleep cycle, the dangers of leaving it untreated, and how Best Sleep Today can help.
How Sleep Apnea Disrupts Your Sleep Cycle
A healthy sleep cycle consists of several stages, including light sleep, deep sleep (slow-wave sleep), and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Each stage plays a critical role in rejuvenating the body and mind. When you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), frequent breathing interruptions prevent these cycles from functioning properly.
Each pause in breathing can last 10 seconds or more, forcing your body to wake up briefly to restore normal airflow. These interruptions can occur dozens—or even hundreds—of times a night. Here’s how it affects your sleep cycle:
- Reduced Deep Sleep
Deep sleep is essential for physical restoration, such as repairing muscle tissue and bolstering the immune system. Sleep apnea sufferers rarely achieve this stage because their bodies are constantly “on alert,” waking up repeatedly to resume breathing.
- Fragmented REM Sleep
REM sleep is crucial for memory, learning, and emotional regulation. However, sleep apnea often prevents you from spending adequate time in this phase, leading to grogginess, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings during the day.
- Overall Sleep Deprivation
The cumulative effect of these disruptions is poor-quality sleep, leaving you perpetually fatigued, even after what seems like a full night in bed.
The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Ignoring sleep apnea can have far-reaching consequences, both for your sleep and your long-term health. Here’s why untreated sleep apnea is a serious concern:
- Cardiovascular Risks
Sleep apnea increases your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. The repeated stress of insufficient oxygen and disrupted sleep puts immense strain on your cardiovascular system.
- Daytime Drowsiness and Accidents
Chronic fatigue caused by untreated sleep apnea raises the likelihood of accidents, from falling asleep at the wheel to reduced focus and productivity at work.
- Metabolic Issues
Sleep deprivation influences hormones that regulate appetite, making weight management more challenging. This can create a vicious cycle, as obesity is also a common contributor to sleep apnea.
- Mental Health Strain
Poor sleep is closely tied to anxiety, depression, and difficulty coping with everyday stress.
Treatment at Best Sleep Today
The good news? You don’t have to deal with sleep apnea on your own. At Best Sleep Today, Dr. Scott Mason offers a straightforward solution to treat obstructive sleep apnea—a simple oral appliance. This small, custom-fit device repositions your jaw to keep airways open throughout the night, ensuring you get the deep, restorative sleep your body needs. Unlike cumbersome CPAP machines, oral appliances are easy to use, portable, and comfortable, making them an excellent option for most patients.
Take Control of Your Sleep
Healthy sleep is within reach. If sleep apnea is affecting your nights—and your days—now is the time to act. Best Sleep Today in Grapevine, TX, is here to help you reclaim your sleep and protect your health. Contact Dr. Scott Mason and his team today to learn more about how a custom oral appliance can restore your rest and revitalize your life.
Don’t wait—your well-being starts with better sleep tonight.
Best Sleep Today
801 W Wall St, Suite 100 Grapevine, TX 76051
Phone: 817-623-9699
