Are you at risk for sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea affects more than 12 million North Americans, and Dr. Doctor and our team are here to help if you’re one of them. This disorder disrupts your sleep patterns, causing dangerous interruptions in breathing during the night, which can affect your overall health.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you may feel consistently tired, even after a full night’s sleep. You might sleep for eight hours, but your body only experiences three to four hours of restorative sleep.
In addition to disrupted sleep, sleep apnea is associated with a more increased chance of heart attack and stroke. It can also contribute to conditions like high blood pressure, depression, irritability, memory problems, and sexual dysfunction.
Sleep apnea takes place when the throat’s back muscles become relaxed excessively, blocking airflow. This causes breathing pauses lasting between 10 to 20 seconds, reducing oxygen levels in the brain and making it dangerous.
Any person at any age can develop sleep apnea. Treatment options include CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) devices, and an alternative option is an oral sleep apnea appliance. This device gently shifts or moves your lower jaw forward to open your airway for better breathing during the night.
At Arlington Dental Professionals, we care deeply about your health. We routinely screen for sleep apnea during checkups and will recommend you to a specialist if needed. If you suspect you have sleep apnea or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Arlington office. We’re here to help!