Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can negatively affect your sleep and quality of life. While you may think that your bad sleep or daytime drowsiness is just “the way things are,” oftentimes it is actually linked to sleep apnea.
Visit our office for a professional evaluation if you have the following symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Loud snoring at night
- Waking frequently throughout the night and restless sleep
- Gasping for breath, choking, or snorting upon waking
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Morning headaches
- Excessive daytime drowsiness
- Difficulty concentrating or memory problems when awake
- Irritability or mood swings
- Depression
Not getting enough, good-quality sleep can be harmful to you in several ways. Your health, work, and relationships can suffer as a result. Being tired during the day can make it more difficult to concentrate at work, or while driving and performing other tasks. This thereby increases the risk of accidents and injuries to yourself and others.
Your health is at risk if you have untreated sleep apnea. It may increase the occurrence of:
- Stroke
- Heart disease and heart attacks
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
Who is at Risk for Sleep Apnea?
Some of the health factors that increase your risk of sleep apnea include:
- Being overweight or obese
- Smoking
- Large neck circumference
- Recessed chin or large overbite
- Chronic sinusitis
- Large tonsils or adenoids
- Family history of sleep apnea
Fortunately, there are several lifestyle changes and medical treatments that can help reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea, and restore your quality of sleep and life. If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea, contact our office for an evaluation and to learn more about our custom-made oral appliance. We can help you get better sleep, so give us a call!