What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during the night. These pauses in breathing—called apneic events—can last several seconds and may occur hundreds of times while you sleep. Each interruption briefly wakes your body, even if you don’t realize it, preventing the deep, restorative rest your body needs.

At our premiere Anchorage dental center, we help patients understand how sleep apnea affects both daily energy and long-term health. The most common form, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when the soft tissues of the throat relax and block the airway. This restriction can cause loud snoring, gasping, or choking sounds as you struggle to breathe. Over time, these constant interruptions strain your heart, brain, and immune system, leading to fatigue and more serious health risks.

Without treatment, sleep apnea can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cognitive decline. Fortunately, effective treatments are available right here in Anchorage to help you breathe freely and sleep deeply again.

Signs of Sleep Apnea

Most people with sleep apnea don’t realize they have the condition. Even though breathing pauses can happen many times each night, you might never wake up enough to notice. And if you do, you may attribute the disruption to something else.

Ongoing oxygen deprivation can affect your heart, brain, and overall health, leading to fatigue, headaches, and serious medical complications. Getting the right diagnosis and treatment can restore your energy, protect your long-term health, and help you sleep soundly again.

In Anchorage, signs of sleep apnea often include loud snoring, pauses in breathing, gasping for air, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, and difficulty concentrating. These risks are especially relevant in Alaska, where long periods of darkness affect sleep patterns and higher rates of obesity and cardiovascular conditions make early detection even more important.

Common warning signs include:

  • Loud Snoring – Snoring occurs when your airway narrows, and sleep apnea occurs when it closes completely. The louder the snore, the more likely OSA is the cause.
  • Daytime Sleepiness – Poor sleep prevents your body from reaching deep, restorative rest, leaving you tired no matter how long you’ve been in bed.
  • Morning Headaches – Interrupted oxygen flow during sleep can trigger headaches or migraines upon waking.
  • Dry Mouth or Sore Throat – Mouth breathing during sleep can cause dryness or soreness in the morning.
  • Difficulty Concentrating and Memory Problems – Disrupted sleep affects the brain’s ability to focus and process information.
  • Mood Changes and Irritability – Chronic fatigue can lead to mood swings, anxiety, or depression.
  • Nighttime Sweating or Racing Heartbeat – These may indicate that your body is stressed from repeated oxygen drops.
  • Frequent Nighttime Urination – Your body may misinterpret oxygen loss as a need to eliminate fluids.

Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Untreated sleep apnea doesn’t just cause fatigue—it can take a serious toll on nearly every system in your body. When your airway repeatedly closes, your body and brain are deprived of oxygen, placing significant stress on vital organs.

  • Cardiovascular Problems: Sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart disease, and stroke. For many Alaskans—where heart disease rates are already above average—effective sleep apnea management is essential for long-term heart health.
  • Metabolic Disorders: Interrupted sleep disrupts your metabolism, making it harder to regulate weight and insulin. People with untreated OSA are more likely to develop insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain. In Alaska, limited daylight and seasonal activity changes can make these challenges even more severe.
  • Cognitive and Emotional Changes: Sleep apnea interferes with brain function and emotional balance. Over time, it can cause memory issues, poor concentration, irritability, and depression. Chronic oxygen deprivation also increases the risk of early cognitive decline.
  • Weakened Immune System: Consistent sleep deprivation weakens the immune system, leading to more frequent illness and slower recovery.
  • Daytime Impairment and Safety Risks: People with untreated OSA experience extreme fatigue and slower reaction times, raising the likelihood of car accidents and workplace injuries.
  • Decreased Quality of Life: Chronic tiredness affects energy, relationships, and overall happiness. Some patients also experience sexual dysfunction and reduced enjoyment in daily life, creating a cycle of fatigue and frustration.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options for Alaskans

If you recognize these warning signs, it’s important to get tested for sleep apnea. Only a professional sleep study can confirm a diagnosis. At Excellence in Dentistry, our Anchorage sleep dentist can help you arrange a convenient home sleep test and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

While CPAP therapy is a common treatment, many patients find it uncomfortable or difficult to use long-term. For mild to moderate sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy offers an effective, non-invasive alternative. These small, custom-fitted devices reposition the jaw and tongue to keep your airway open. They’re quiet, easy to travel with, and often preferred by patients seeking a simpler solution.

In addition to oral appliances, lifestyle changes can also play a role in treatment success. Weight management, increased physical activity, and limiting alcohol before bedtime can help reduce symptoms. Our team provides practical guidance to help Alaskans maintain healthy sleep habits year-round—especially through Alaska’s long winters and darker months.

At Excellence in Dentistry, we’re proud to offer comprehensive sleep apnea treatment options for Alaskans, combining advanced dental technology with compassionate, patient-centered care.

Get Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Treatment in Anchorage

Sleep apnea doesn’t just affect your nights—it impacts your energy, focus, and overall health every day. The good news is that effective, comfortable treatment options are available right here in Anchorage.

At Excellence in Dentistry, our experienced Anchorage sleep dentist offers advanced solutions like oral appliance therapy to help you breathe easier and sleep better. We’re committed to helping Alaskans enjoy healthier, more restorative rest—without the discomfort of traditional CPAP machines.

Don’t ignore the warning signs. Call (907) 349-0022 today to schedule your consultation. Reclaim your energy, restore your health, and rediscover what it feels like to wake up refreshed.