Is sleeping, killing you?

It is well known that sleep is one of the basic human needs. Not getting adequate sleep can negatively effect every aspect of your life. But you may not know that if you are suffering from snoring or sleep apnea you are likely causing harm to your body and shortening your life span while sleeping.


What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times.

When you miss a breath or take an abnormal breath, the amount of oxygen in your blood drops to an abnormal level. The reduced oxygen levels can lead to a variety of medical problems including high blood pressure.

There are two types of sleep apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): The more common of the two forms of apnea, it is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.

Central sleep apnea: Unlike OSA, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to instability in the respiratory control center.

Am I at Risk for Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. However, risk factors for sleep apnea include:
Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women)
Certain shapes of the palate and jaw
Having larger tonsils
Having a large tongue
Narrow airway
Nasal obstruction
Having a family history of sleep apnea
Male gender
Being overweight
Over the age of forty


What are the symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Excessive daytime sleepiness, including falling asleep at inappropriate times
Awakening unrefreshed in the morning
Depression (possibly)
Poor concentration
Loud snoring
Observed episodes of breathing cessation
Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
Morning headaches
Difficulty staying asleep
What are the Effects of Sleep Apnea?
If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems including:
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Stroke
Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks
Impotence


In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, as well as academic underachievement in children and adolescents



There are many treatment options available for sleep apnea.

To learn more about sleep apnea, set up appointment to be monitored for sleep apnea or to discuss treatment options please contact Rochester Advanced Dentistry at 248.656.2020