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What Is It Like to Have Sleep Apnea?

man with sleep apnea

There are two types of people living with sleep apnea: treated and untreated, and their lives look quite different. Those with untreated sleep apnea usually suffer from a lack of sleep, headaches, weight gain, and other symptoms. Those who have received dental sleep medicine treatment through a mandibular advancement device enjoy a life that is satisfying and free from sleep apnea-related complications.

Dr. Timothy E. Mickiewicz offers life-changing dentistry to patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Known as The Face of TMJ Therapy/Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Mick has been a trailblazer for finding new and effective dental and medical treatments for sleep issues and a number of other pathologies. Visit our Sacramento, CA office to start your journey towards a more vibrant life. Call 916-469-9718 or request an appointment online today.

Living with Untreated Sleep Apnea

According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and 80 percent of those cases are undiagnosed. If you’re one of the undiagnosed 80 percent, you may be experiencing one or more of these symptoms:

  • Constant sleepiness throughout the day
  • Randomly falling asleep
  • Abnormally loud snoring
  • Morning headaches
  • Waking up gasping for air
  • Difficulty sleeping at night
  • Memory problems
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

Many patients only receive treatment for their symptoms, not for the underlying issue—sleep apnea. It’s important that you and your doctor recognize exactly what is causing these issues to arise. When sleep apnea goes untreated, it can lead to other health issues, such as:

  • Heart attack
  • Heart arrhythmia
  • Heart failure
  • Headaches
  • Diabetes
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Cognitive issues

If you believe sleep apnea might be the problem, Dr. Mick can recommend a sleep doctor who can perform a sleep study. Dr. Mick and your sleep doctor can work together to provide you with the appropriate treatment.

To learn more about life with untreated sleep apnea, read these stories of real people who have suffered from sleep apnea.

Life After Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep apnea doesn’t have to control your life. Though many patients have used CPAP machines as a treatment for their obstructive sleep apnea, CPAP machines can be incredibly uncomfortable, and many patients still experience the symptoms of sleep apnea while using them.

Dr. Mick’s patients have experienced incredible results by receiving a mandibular advancement device. Here is what a few of them had to say:

“It’s wonderful to have a life where you can actually be active.” -Charlene

“[Dr. Mickiewicz] has found the simplest and most affordable solution with my custom-made mouthpiece that reshapes my jaw position just while I sleep! Bingo—no more sleep issues and also no more large breathing machine to struggle with! I am very grateful for his expertise and experience with sleep issues.” -Tony

“…I am so pleased with the early results. I just started using the device last week and I am already seeing an improvement in the quality of my sleep. From my first contact with Dr. Mickiewicz, it was immediately apparent that is grasp of the issues surrounding sleep apnea were light years ahead of his peers.” -Don

We hope to add your success story to this list soon.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

You too can experience a healthy, well-rested life through effective and innovative sleep dentistry treatment. Contact our Sacramento, CA office today at 916-469-9178 to schedule an initial appointment with Dr. Mick.