Your loud snoring every night can lead to restless nights for your partner, but what if your snoring isn’t just snoring? What if you’re holding your breath numerous times each night and waking up feeling exhausted?
Untreated sleep apnea might be quietly disrupting your health and robbing you of the energy and focus you need to be productive during the day. So, let’s explore some of the hidden dangers of untreated sleep apnea.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious sleep disorder where your throat muscles relax while you’re asleep and block your airway. Because of this, you repeatedly stop breathing, waking you up a dozen or more times each night.
The most common signs of OSA include:
- Loud snoring
- Gasping or choking
- Waking up tired
- Daytime drowsiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches and mood swings
Why Untreated Sleep Apnea Is Dangerous
According to Loyola Medicine, untreated sleep apnea increases your risk for serious health problems, such as:
- High blood pressure and heart disease — When your body is deprived of oxygen, it places undue strain on your cardiovascular system.
- Stroke or Alzheimer’s disease — Quality sleep is critical to your brain health and memory.
- Type 2 diabetes — Without consistent sleep, you are more likely to become insulin resistant.
- Accidents — When you suffer from daytime drowsiness, you increase your risk for work-related or automobile accidents.
- Mood disorders — Your risk of anxiety and depression increases if you don’t sleep well.
Treating Sleep Apnea in Evansville
If we suspect you have sleep apnea, we’ll ask for a home sleep study where you’ll wear a device that measures how often you stop breathing at night. This will help us determine whether you have sleep apnea and assess its severity.
For mild to moderate sleep apnea, we can customize an oral appliance for you to wear at night, eliminating the need for a CPAP machine. An oral appliance repositions your jaw and keeps your airway open.
Looking for a Dentist in Evansville, IN?
If so, look no further than the experienced dental team at All in the Family Dental! We do more than treat teeth; we can help you navigate your sleep apnea diagnosis and get you the treatment you need to protect your overall health.
