For many people, exerting themselves while exercising, walking up a steep hill, or suffering from illness or allergies can cause them to struggle to breathe. For others, however, these difficulties can happen much more frequently. If you find yourself regularly out of breath or gasping for air even after minimal physical exertion, here’s why you may be struggling, and how you can benefit from airway management treatment.
Why Am I Struggling to Breathe?
Airway issues can develop for a variety of reasons. Typically, it is due to some combination of issues with the mouth, jaw, and throat. In some cases, the jaw may be too small, or the jaw and tongue may be set too far back in the mouth. Because of this, many patients also struggle to breathe at bedtime because they cannot take in enough oxygen while reclining.
Other Signs You May Need Airway Management
Though the most easily recognizable signs of struggling to breathe are behaviors such as gasping for air, there are a few other telltale symptoms that patients frequently overlook, including:
- Snoring frequently
- Sleep apnea
- Feeling tired and sluggish, even after 8 hours of sleep
- Sore throat or dry mouth in the morning
- Bedwetting in children
- Struggling to concentrate or focus
- Mood swings
- Sexual dysfunction
- Morning headaches
- Grinding your teeth at night
How Can Airway Management Help?
Airway management focuses on your oral structure and how it’s related to your breathing. It can help patients of any age who have a narrow or obstructed upper airway which could be caused by loose tissues in the throat, problems with jaw development, or other issues.
Airway management can correct loose soft tissues or the positioning of the jaw, making it easier for you to breathe while awake and asleep. This in turn will help you get a better night’s rest, so you feel more alert and energized during the day. It can also help you feel less breathless when moving, whether you’re participating in vigorous exercise or simply walking across the room.
Remember, airway management can help adjust your jaw and soft tissue that allows you to improve your intake of air and oxygen. This can eliminate the struggle to breathe, so you can participate in more physical activities, sleep better, and remain awake and alert during the day. To learn more about how airway management could help you, please visit your sleep dentist today!
About Dr. Teasdale
Dr. Russell Teasdale earned his DMD at Washington University in St. Louis, MO and has since then attended thousands of hours of advanced training in topics ranging from TMJ disorders, orthodontics, bonded porcelains, facial aesthetics, occlusion, and airway management through such prestigious organizations as Spear Education. He is a graduate of the United States Dental Institute in Orthodontics, a Fellow of the Academy of Minimally Invasive Dentistry and a Fellow of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and an active member of the VIVOS Institute. He was also the first general dentist to achieve Elite Provider status with Invisalign in Oregon! To schedule an appointment with Evolution Dental for Airway Management, visit our website or call 503-974-3829.