An Eye-Opening Look at Sleep Apnea

If you have obstructive sleep apnea, chances are it's rare for you to get a good night’s sleep. Frequent pauses in breathing throughout the night can cause snoring and gasping for air, interrupting quality sleep cycles. These symptoms are annoying, no doubt, but what you may not realize is that beyond the daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea also poses an immense threat to your health. 

The Dangers of Living with Sleep Apnea

We’re not going to sugarcoat it - this condition is serious. So serious, in fact, that it can lead to sudden death. 

With that said, those who are affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) often develop other related conditions, which can also be fatal. Heart disease is one of those conditions. While it is not known if sleep apnea directly leads to heart disease, the possibility of developing high blood pressure goes up drastically (just imagine how your body goes into a panic when you stop breathing over and over again throughout the night!). If you have OSA, your chances of stroke also increase. 

Another slightly different (but equally serious) example is the increased risk of accidents as a result of daytime sleepiness. This could apply to any type of machinery operation, but especially cars. Traffic accidents are around five times more common for individuals with OSA. 

The First Steps to Peace of Mind and Restful Sleep

In order to stop sleep apnea in its tracks, we first need to identify it - and this can be tricky, especially since those with the condition are often the last to know. Sleep studies can be done overnight in a sleep clinic, but we like to take a simpler approach here at Dental Excellence. 

After we’ve seen you for your complimentary consultation, your sleep study can be completed in the comfort of your own home. You’ll get a small device that gets secured to the body overnight and measures movement and breathing to detect a variety of sleep disorders like OSA. Then you’ll bring it back in for us to analyze the recording - it’s that easy! 

You don't have to put up with the frustration of sleep apnea, and it truly is too dangerous to ignore. Solutions for a long, healthy, and meaningful life await! 

​Click here for more information on sleep apnea.