Are you always feeling tired no matter how early you go to bed? Is your snoring causing your partner to despise you in the morning because they couldn’t get enough rest? You might just have a sleeping disorder known as sleep apnea in Topeka.
This is no condition to ignore, either. Sleep apnea could have deadly consequences if the signs and symptoms are ignored. Learn more about sleep apnea, it’s effects, and treatment here in this week’s blog post.
Why is Sleep Apnea a Serious Condition?
Everyone knows how sleep can affect your energy and even mood—but when it’s interrupted by breathing issues, the problems can elevate to a whole different level. Obstructive sleep apnea causes pauses in breathing from a blockage in the airway. It can affect your weight, blood pressure, increase your risk of diabetes, cause depression and mood swings, and even increase your risk for stroke, dying from cancer, or sudden death!
These are the serious risks that come with sleep apnea:
- A person with untreated sleep apnea is more than 5 times more likely to be involved in an auto accident because of sleep deprivation.
- Untreated sleep apnea can be a contributing risk factor in high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and irregular mood swings.
- You have a much higher risk of developing cancer with conditions like sleep apnea.
- 83% of people who suffer from high blood pressure, (despite taking prescription medications to treat the health concerns), also have sleep apnea—much higher than half!
- Almost 70%–almost ¾–of people who have suffered a stroke also suffer from sleep apnea.
As mentioned above, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax, the tongue shifts back, or even when the soft tissues cause a blockage in your airway. A person with obstructive sleep apnea may experience shallow breathing or even numerous pauses in breathing that can cause an alarming choking or snoring sound when breathing starts again throughout the night.
These pauses in breathing happen up to hundreds of times in the night, jolting your body awake with brain signals that are alarming your body that you’re not receiving enough oxygen. These disturbances cause an individual to feel restless and consequently extremely fatigued during the day even though they may not even remember waking up themselves.
The Signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
These are the symptoms of mild sleep apnea:
- Does your partner notice you gasping, choking, or violently snoring throughout the night?
- Do you often wake up in the morning feeling like you had little to no rest?
- Do you sometimes feel exhausted throughout the day, no matter what you do?
- Has your energy level, overall motivation, or even sex drive decreased?
- It is difficult to concentrate on the smallest tasks?
- Do you wake up an extremely dry mouth or throat in the morning?
If you experience any of these symptoms, you may have a severe case of sleep apnea:
- Does your doctor notice that you have high blood pressure?
- Have you suffered a stroke or heart attack recently?
- Do you have Type 2 Diabetes?
If you answered yes to either the mild or severe symptoms, it’s time to seek effective treatment with a custom oral appliance from your local dentist. Call your nearest practice to discover how a simple oral appliance can help you gain a night’s full of refreshing sleep again!
About Our Office
Here at Michel Dental, we know that great sleep makes anyone feel like a million bucks! Everyone should enjoy that luxury. Get the help you need from us and our effective sleep apnea treatment when you schedule an appointment today.