RESTLESS AT NIGHT? TIRED DURING THE DAY? SLEEP APNEA MAY BE TO BLAME
Public awareness of sleep apnea is surprisingly low considering how common the disorder is. Over 200,000 new cases are diagnosed every year, though the actual number of cases may be higher given that some patient’s sleep apnea symptoms are misdiagnosed as ADHD, anxiety, and/or insomnia. If you’re struggling to stay energized or you experience morning headaches, then you might want to see if this sleep disorder is to blame. WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA? Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous sleep disorder that causes a person’s breathing to repeatedly stop and start while they sleep. Patients who snore loudly and whose breathing is staggered throughout the night may have sleep apnea. While there are different types of sleep apnea, the symptoms sometimes overlap and make it difficult to tell which you have. Regardless of what type you may be suffering from, it’s important first to notice if you have symptoms of the disorder.
Common sleep apnea symptoms include: • Loud snoring • Stopping breathing during the night • Gasping for air during sleep • Waking up with a dry mouth • Morning headaches • Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia) •
factors contributing to sleep apnea is throat blockage. For example, if you’re older, you have a narrow airway, or if you smoke or consume alcohol or sedatives, then your airway might relax too easily, causing obstructive sleep apnea. The long-term effects of sleep apnea vary, but most significantly, this disorder can contribute to daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, medical and surgical complications, and more. Treatment varies from lifestyle changes, like losing weight or quitting smoking, to specially designed therapy or surgery. You don’t have to endure restless nights any longer — Dr. Corie and our team can help.
Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia) Difficulty paying attention while awake
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Feeling irritable
Not everybody with sleep apnea snores. If you experience any of these symptoms, then bring them up with your expert team at Comfort Family Dental. COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR DENTIST ABOUT SLEEP APNEA We know what you’re thinking: Why on earth would a dentist want to talk about my sleep? The answer is that dentists are often the first people to notice your risk of sleep apnea. One of the biggest
“HE WHO IS NOT COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO TAKE RISKS WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING IN LIFE.” —MUHAMMAD ALI
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