Do you often feel exhausted at work, even if you went to bed early the night before? Does your spouse or partner complain about your snoring? You may be affected by sleep apnea. This disorder can not only impact your quality of life but lead to dangerous health consequences if left untreated. Keep reading to learn about the health risks associated with sleep apnea and how you can take action with help from your dentist.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects over 20 million people, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association. People affected by sleep apnea experience short, repeated breathing interruptions dozens or even hundreds of times a night. There are two main types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – The most common form, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax and block the airway.
- Central sleep apnea – This type of sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not send the right signals to the throat and upper body muscles responsible for breathing.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Factors that increase the risk of sleep apnea include:
- Obesity
- Chronic nasal congestion
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Diabetes
- Being older
- Gender (men are twice as likely to have sleep apnea than women)
How Does Sleep Apnea Impact Your Health?
Sleep apnea can leave you feeling tired and unmotivated during the day. However, the negative effects extend way beyond just daytime drowsiness. If left untreated, sleep apnea can contribute to the following serious health problems:
- Heart disease – Untreated sleep apnea may increase the risk of heart failure by 140% and the risk of coronary heart disease by 30%.
- High blood pressure – Of people diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, it is estimated that around half also have high blood pressure.
- Type 2 Diabetes – Sleep apnea can promote insulin resistance, which is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes.
- Automobile accidents – According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a recent study found that people with sleep apnea are nearly 2.5 times more likely to be the driver in a motor vehicle accident.
How to Treat Sleep Apnea
Fortunately, all it takes to overcome sleep apnea can be a trip to your dentist. A qualified sleep dentist may recommend oral appliance therapy, which involves wearing a custom mouthpiece while you sleep. An oral appliance makes slight changes to your jaw position to keep your airway open and prevent breathing interruptions. If worn consistently at night, an oral appliance can dramatically improve your quality of sleep and reduce the health risks linked to sleep apnea.
Don’t let sleep apnea destroy your quality of life and put your health in danger. Talk to your dentist today to find out if oral appliance therapy is right for you.
About the Practice
The talented team at Little Rock Family Dental Care regularly helps patients overcome sleep apnea with high-quality oral appliances. They are open six days a week and have three convenient locations. To learn more about the consequences of untreated sleep apnea, visit the Little Rock Family Dental Care website or call 501-954-9900.