What You Should Know About Sleep Apnea

sleep apnea factsOur team offers comfortable and custom-made treatment options to address chronic snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea impacts millions of people in the United States, and not only prevents good rest, but could bring harm to your overall health and quality of life. In today’s blog, your Greenville, TX, dentist looks at what you need to know about OSA.

Causes

The disorder occurs when we stop breathing for brief moments as we sleep. The brain will pick up on the sudden lack of oxygen and wake us. However, people rarely remember waking up, even though these interruptions in the sleep cycle hundreds of times in a night, often dozens time each hour. The issue is caused by the soft tissues in the throat and the rear of the mouth becoming too relaxed and collapsing, which cuts off airflow.

Risk Factors

The disorder impacts teens and adults of all genders, but men 55 and older seem to be at an especially high risk. Other risk facts could include obesity, a large neck circumference, deviated septum, allergy and sinus issues, and excessive alcohol consumption. Sleeping on your back is also a factor as well.

Warning Signs

How do you know if you should seek treatment? Warning signs of trouble often include dry mouth in the mornings, trouble getting up, feeling exhausted during the day, experiencing headaches, or having trouble focusing on tasks at work or school. Other symptoms could include moodiness, depression, and difficulty falling asleep, or waking several times in the night. If you encounter one or more of the above symptoms, then please let us know right away! We can offer a sleep assessment and a home sleep test to assess your risk and see if you need treatment!

Impacts on Health

In the short term, you could have trouble staying awake or being focused, and could be moodier than usual. Over time, the lack of rest could impact your ability to think clearly and could even strain your immune system, leading to more frequent illness. In the long term, lack of sleep also causes problems for your cardiovascular system. You could have a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and even stroke or heart attack. Instead of letting your overall health and quality of life suffer, talk to our team about our custom-made oral appliances! If you have any questions about OSA, then contact our team today.

Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville Treats OSA

At Smith Family Dentistry, we want to help you regain the ability to sleep with comfort and ease. To learn more about how we stop snoring and OSA, then talk to Dental Sleep Solutions of Greenville by contacting our office at 903-455-0516.