Snoring! Upset Sleep Partners! Oh, My!
So, you are a loud sleeper — who cares? What difference does it make? Why should you be concerned? Besides irritating your sleep partner, your loud snoring could be a sign that you have a sleep disorder, one that could be affecting the quality of your life. Read on to learn how dangerous untreated sleep disorders can be and what you can do about it.
The Not-So-Silent Killer
Your loud snoring could be a sign that you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In fact, more than 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with most cases going undiagnosed. When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your airway becomes blocked during the night and you literally stop breathing, which wakes you up and interferes with getting a good night’s rest. Typically, the loud snort or snore often associated with OSA is from you gasping for breath. This can happen multiple times during the night, which disrupts sleep patterns, creates chemical imbalances in the bloodstream, interrupts cardiac and respiratory function, raises blood pressure, and speeds up your heart rate. It’s technically true that because you do wake up, OSA itself doesn’t kill you, but what OSA can cause will. Untreated OSA leads to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, premature death, and dementia. The more severe the OSA, the higher the mortality risk. Over 38,000 people die each year from heart disease linked to OSA.
Restful Sleep Awaits
If it sounds like I am trying to scare you, I am. It is important that you realize how serious OSA can be. The symptoms, which include headaches, moodiness, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, memory problems, and more, can be associated with other illnesses and health issues, which makes sleep apnea difficult to recognize. A diagnosis is important, because the good news is that OSA can be treated.
Once you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, our team can work with you to find the treatment option that’s best for you — which can include creating customized oral appliances to help you get the restorative rest your body requires for a happy, healthy life.
I believe your oral health is closely linked to your overall well-being. That is the reason I opened the Southwest Texas TMJ & Sleep Therapy Center to use dentistry to help treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
If you are in the Uvalde, Texas area, and are suffering from any symptoms of sleep apnea, call us to set up a consultation. We look forward to seeing you and helping you improve your quality of life!
Best,
Dr. Munoz
