Sleep Dallas Blog

You wake up and immediately notice the unpleasant pain in your head. You think, “Again?”

Does this happen to you most mornings? If so, it might be a sign of a sleep disorder. In particular, chronic headaches might be a sign that you have sleep apnea – a disorder that could lead to far worse problems if left alone.

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Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep conditions, affecting millions of people in America alone. This occurs when your throat or tongue muscles relax so much that they partially or fully block your airway, making it difficult to breathe. This interrupted breathing also leads to restlessness, drowsiness, as well as many other life changing symptoms, which leaves you wondering, “Will this ever go away?” Read on to find out the answer!

The year is winding down and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. And while this delicious holiday is going to look quite different for most of us (no driving 3 hours to your in-laws; no hearing the same story from your great uncle; none of Grandma’s specialty casserole), some things aren’t going to change. Many of us will still be near people we love, just on a smaller, more close-knit scale. We’ll still be enjoying our favorite Thanksgiving dishes (preparing and cooking a turkey will be a first for many of us), and we’ll still be overcoming personal challenges … such as being “the snorer.”
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When you wake up in the morning, have you been experiencing headaches? If this occurs consistently, it’s not just a normal “hangover” or grogginess. In fact, this issue could be due to a common sleep disorder called sleep apnea. This occurs when your throat or tongue blocks your airway, making it difficult to breathe, which leads to interruptions during sleep. However, it can cause a wide range of symptoms as well. Read on to learn why sleep apnea treatment could be the best solution for your consistent headaches in the morning.

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Marie Dibra to the Sleep Dallas team! Newly arrived to Texas, Dr. Dibra joins our team from Florida where she was a clinical professor with the division of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Florida in Gainsville.

Board-certified in sleep medicine, Dr. Dibra specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and shift work disorder, among others. In addition to her focus in sleep medicine, Dr. Dibra is also a board-certified internist with a background in nutrition. Her unique professional background and experience allow her to take a comprehensive and compassionate approach to addressing our patients’ sleep issues and their underlying contributors.

Sleep apnea is a condition that affects millions of Americans, keeping them from the good night’s rest they deserve. It occurs when the airway becomes obstructed by relaxed throat muscles or the tongue, leading to difficulty breathing while asleep. This interrupted breathing causes those affected to awaken throughout the night—usually without even realizing it. Unfortunately, poor sleep is just the beginning of the problems that sleep apnea can cause. Read on to learn why this issue can be detrimental to your health and day to day life.

If you find out that sleep apnea is the reason you’re tired and irritable all the time, your first question is naturally likely to be, “How did this start?” A sleep disorder can be linked to a mix of lifestyle factors, including obesity and overuse of alcohol. But is it possible to be born with it? As it turns out, your genetics may end up contributing to a sleep disorder – and that could have severe implications for your health in the long term.

Most people don’t realize they’re suffering from sleep apnea until they’ve received a proper diagnosis. As such, it’s fairly easy to overlook the potentially devastating effect the condition could have on your health. Sleep apnea can cause your breathing to stop 5 to 30 times every hour while you’re asleep, and the loss of oxygen can put a strain on your body – and that naturally includes your heart. Read on to learn more about the connection between breathing-related sleep disorders and heart health – and why being proactive about improving the quality of your slumber might save your life.

Maybe you grew up with a parent that had to undergo sleep apnea treatment at some point. Or maybe you’re a parent yourself that has recently had to wrestle with the disorder. In either case, there’s most likely a nagging question in your mind: can sleep apnea be passed down from parent to child? Knowing well in advance to watch out for signs of sleep apnea could end up saving you from serious health issues later down the line. Here’s what you need to know about the role that genetics does (and does not) play in the development of a sleep disorder.