3 Surprising Facts about Sleep Apnea

Did you know that sleep apnea is more than just snoring? Did you know that it can become a life-threatening condition if left untreated? Well, our team is going to give you some of the more surprising facts on sleep apnea to increase your awareness of the condition in hopes that you will seek treatment for the future.

Fact #1: Staying healthy and fit can lower your risk

Being overweight, smoking, drinking alcohol are big risk factors for sleep apnea. By exercising daily and eating right, you can help reduce the number of times you stop breathing and improve your overall quality of life.

Fact #2: Sleep apnea affects everyone

Though common in overweight men over 40 years old, sleep apnea can affect men, women and children of all ages. Truth is, nearly 18 million American are affected by sleep apnea. If your family has a history of sleep apnea, it may be a good idea to speak with your doctor about it.

Fact #3: Sleep apnea can cause future problems

If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause breathing to be stopped for brief periods of time while asleep. The condition has been linked to high blood pressure, stoke, arrhythmia and increased risk of heart disease. Apnea also decreases your quality of sleep, leaving you depressed and irritable.

Your sleep apnea shouldn’t rule your life, please give our office a call today at 269-964-7660 to talk with our dentist about your treatment options.