By itself, sleep apnea can make it very difficult to get the quality rest that your body deserves. But what you may not realize is that certain habits can make the problem even worse! If you routinely look at your phone right before bed, it could be contributing to your poor-quality sleep; here are the facts you need to know if you want to enjoy more restful nights again.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders in the world. It can occur if your airway becomes partially or fully obstructed while you’re asleep. This can cause your breathing to stop and restart multiple times during the night. Each time your breathing pauses, your brain is forced to wake you up. These awakenings are so brief that you might not remember them, but they’re enough to disrupt your sleep cycle and cause the quality of your rest to suffer.
How Can Your Phone Worsen Sleep Apnea?
The screen of your phone emits blue light, which is a special kind of light that also comes from the sun. When you’re exposed to blue light, it can suppress the production of the hormone melatonin that plays an important role in your sleep-wake cycle. If your melatonin levels are low, you might have a harder time falling and staying asleep. Needless to say, this is the last kind of issue you want to have if you are already missing out on quality sleep due to sleep apnea.
What Steps Can You Take to Get Sleep Apnea Under Control?
If you’re trying to manage your sleep apnea, then you need to address any variables that could be causing the quality of your sleep to suffer. As such, it may be a good idea to avoid using your phone for at least an hour before you go to bed. You can pass the time by reading a book or listening to music instead.
Of course, it’s also important to have your sleep apnea treated by a professional. If you would rather not wear a CPAP machine, you can talk to your dentist about wearing an oral appliance instead. This device can shift your lower jaw slightly forward in order to open your airway and reduce the risk of breathing interruptions.
Sleep apnea can have a devastating impact on your overall health and your quality of life. It’s therefore important to be proactive about taking whatever steps you can to get your sleep-disordered breathing under control, whether that means using your phone less or changing other habits.
About the Practice
At Prosper Dental Health, our team of dental specialists combines their expertise to bring our patients the first-class care that they deserve. No matter what your dental needs are, you can count on our team to treat you with compassion. For patients looking for an alternative to CPAP, we offer fully personalized oral appliances. If you are in need of sleep apnea treatment, you can schedule an appointment with our team by visiting our website, using our online booking tool, or calling (972) 347-2233.