Is your Overall Health at Risk because of your Teeth and Gums?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects millions of people all over the globe, and what makes this statistic equally as shocking is that a large percentage aren’t even aware that they are suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Also referred to as OSA, Dentistry for Health NY explains that Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition that affects your airways while you sleep. OSA causes a person to cease breathing for up to a minute, 30 times, or more, every hour. The disorder occurs when your muscles in the back of the throat hanging from your uvula or soft palate, your tongue, the throat and your tonsils, relax. This closes or narrows the opening making it harder to breathe. This will lower your oxygen levels. When your brain senses it can’t breathe it will wake you so that you can open up your airway. It happens so briefly that most who suffer aren’t even aware of it.
According to Dentistry for Health NY Signs, you May Be Suffering include:
- Loud snoring
- Breathing cessation as witnessed by a bed partner
- Waking abruptly followed by shortness of breath
- Morning headaches
- Waking up with a sore or dry mouth
- Attention issues
- Irritability
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Behavioral problems in children with OSA
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
- Diabetes
- Recurring heart attacks
- High blood sugar
- Liver problems
- Partner sleep deprivation
Not everyone who snores has OSA, but if you snore loudly and excessively, you may want to see your doctor to eliminate the possibility of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
According to Dentistry for Health NY, if you choke, gasp, or snort while you sleep, which another person usually witnesses, you may have OSA.
People who are overweight, smoke, drink excessively or have a narrow airway are at risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. If you are older, male, have a family history of the disorder, take tranquilizers or sedatives or have nasal congestion, OSA could be an issue.
If you are concerned about your lack of sleep, call and schedule an appointment with your physician.
If you have already been diagnosed with OSA, call or click and talk to Dentistry for Healthy NY who can prescribe an oral appliance therapy device for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It really could put an end to your sleepless nights.
