Many patients have families that they have to have the energy to tend to and be active with. When you don’t have the energy nor the patience to do so because a lack of effective sleep, you’ll begin to see the negative effects on your family and relationships.
Sleep apnea can cause patients to have interruptions in their sleep, leading to other concerns that can drag down other aspects of their life. Your dentist is here to explain what symptoms to look out for when it comes to sleep apnea in Lincoln and why it’s important to seek treatment right away.
The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
The most common sleeping disorder is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is a condition that causes your airway to become partially or fully blocked while you’re sleeping. As you can imagine, it’s incredibly dangerous to have pauses of breathing while you’re sleeping. It’s a threat to your health and you may not even realize you’re dealing with it unless you know the symptoms!
Although the most familiar symptom of sleep apnea remains loud snoring or choking (caused when your body jolts awake to allow the airway to clear), there are many other symptoms that you should be aware of.
- Frequent snoring
- Silent pauses in breathing
- Choking or gasping sounds
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Insomnia
- Morning headaches
- Difficulty focusing
- Decreased sex drive
- Irritability
Sleep Apnea: Much More Than a Threat to Your Sleep
Did you know that sleep apnea can be deadly? Other than blocking your airway, you could be at risk for these other health risks.
Sleep Deprivation
One of the most negative effecting symptoms of sleep apnea is the feeling of extreme exhaustion or fatigue. These conditions not only affect your mood, but they can also take a toll on your alertness and basic ability to focus on even the simplest tasks.
This can be brought to the extent that people can’t focus even when driving, nodding off while at the wheel. In fact, people that suffer from sleep apnea are 10 times more likely to be involved in a car accident than patients who do not have sleep apnea.
Hypertension
Did you know that if you have sleep apnea, you have 4 times higher chance of developing hypertension? The sooner you get help, the sooner you can reduce your chance of developing a serious health problem that’s associated with sleep apnea. It’s critical to get help for your sleeping disorder as soon as possible!
Diabetes
Did you know even your blood sugar levels are associated with sleep apnea? Since sleep apnea results in low oxygen levels in the body from pauses in breathing, your brain and heart function are directly affected. It’s been found that up to 2/3 of people who have sleep apnea are overweight, contributing to developing diabetes.
These are just a few of the major risks associated with sleep apnea. The best thing you can do if you notice any of these symptoms above is to find a dentist that can help you treat your sleeping disorder.
About Our Office
Here at Olberding Dental, we know that you need a skilled, compassionate dental team to help you reach your oral health goals and correct any issues you may be facing. That’s why we believe in providing leading dentistry, meaning that we use our combined training and experience with advanced technology to provide the best dental services possible. Learn more about how Dr. Olberding and the rest of our team can help you conquer your oral health concerns today.