One study shows over 30% of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) sufferers experience morning dry mouth compared with about 3% for the control group.
Especially if you breathe through your mouth or sleep with it open. One study of 688 people with sleep apnea who use a CPAP machine for treatment, found that 45% of the participants woke up with a dry mouth. If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea you're more likely to wake up with a dry mouth.
Breathing through your mouth instead of your nose as you sleep can cause dry mouth at night. Nighttime mouth breathing can result from blocked nasal passages and is associated with sleep-disordered breathing.
Common causes of dry mouth include: Many medicines, both prescription and over-the-counter, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and medicines for conditions including high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, pain, heart disease, asthma or other respiratory conditions, and epilepsy. Dehydration.
Studies show that patients who develop sleep apnea before the age of fifty have a life expectancy between 8 and 18 years. Fortunately lifestyle changes, treatment, and other interventions can improve the life expectancy of someone with sleep apnea.
The first stage of sleep apnea is benign snoring. Benign snoring is often harmless, but it can be an indication that sleep apnea will develop in the future.
These may include devices such as a pulse oximeter or a Fitbit-style device which track your breathing and heart rate while you sleep. There are also apps available which can be used to measure snoring and assess potential risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea.
Snoring and sleep apnea.
Not drinking enough water can dry your nasal passages which lead to extensive snoring at night. Meanwhile, dehydration and sleep apnea have a reciprocal relationship. Dehydration is common among sleep apnea patients because it consumes more oxygen and water.
While there is no cure for sleep apnea, studies show that certain lifestyle factors can reverse or make your sleep apnea less intense. Other treatment or surgical options can also reverse the condition. Sleep apnea happens when your upper airway muscles relax while you sleep. This causes you to not get enough air.
Some CPAP machines feature heated humidifiers, which moisten the air that flows from the machine. If you're experiencing dry mouth or dry nasal passages when you wake up, it might be worth talking to your doctor to see if a CPAP with a humidifier is a good option for you.
You may find you have a dry mouth from time to time. Using oxygen, nebulisers and inhalers can sometimes cause this. It can make it difficult to chew and swallow foods. Some medicines can also give you a dry mouth.
It appears that CPAP treatment for OSA most frequently causes an increase in body weight, and the study by Quan et al provides the best evidence we have.
There is good news. Upper airway stimulation therapy using a hypoglossal nerve stimulator is an option for people who are unable to tolerate their CPAPs. It's been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
More than usual daytime sleepiness. Waking up with a dry throat or headache. Waking up often during the night. Difficulty concentrating or mood changes during the day.
People who have sleep apnea can wake up 15 to 25 times an hour during sleep – without knowing it. The condition causes them to awaken for only a few seconds, but leaves the sufferer feeling exhausted, even after a full night's rest.
When OSA is not treated, it can also interfere with the normal functions of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. This may provoke abnormalities in a person's heart rhythms and other problems that can cause sudden cardiac death.
With CPAP therapy, you can live a long, healthy life, and there is even a range of CPAP alternatives for those with mild or moderate sleep apnea that may serve as an effective treatment, too.
People who have sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night. If you have sleep apnea, periods of not breathing can disturb your sleep (even if they don't fully wake you up).
Dry mouth can be due to certain health conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, yeast infection (thrush) in your mouth or Alzheimer's disease, or due to autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome or HIV/AIDS. Snoring and breathing with your mouth open also can contribute to dry mouth.
Dry mouth can happen to anyone occasionally—for example, when nervous or stressed. However, when dry mouth persists, it can make chewing, swallowing, and even talking difficult. Dry mouth also increases the risk for tooth decay or fungal infections in the mouth because saliva helps keep harmful germs in check.
Deficiencies in Vitamin A or riboflavin can also cause dry mouth. While both these conditions are rare, they are real and serious, and a medical professional should treat them.