Do You Suffer From Sleep Apnea or Snoring?
Living with sleep apnea can be inconvenient, damaging, and draining to your life. Sleep apnea may come in three different forms, but the most common is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It’s caused when there’s a blockage in the throat causing a person’s breathing pattern to be interrupted or completely stopped for several seconds.
One of the prevailing symptoms of OSA is loud, disruptive snoring. However, since snoring is an extremely normal habit among adults, many cases of sleep apnea go undiagnosed. Many people dismiss their snoring or their partner’s snoring which can lead to bigger health risks in the long run. To determine if you or your sleep partner are suffering from this disorder, there are other factors and side effects of OSA to consider.
Common Factors Associated with Sleep Apnea or Snoring
Not all patients share the same risk of developing sleep apnea. Uncontrollable factors linked to sleep apnea include the patient’s age and gender. Older patients have been found to have a higher risk for the condition, as well as males, who are two to three times more likely than women to have OSA.
Other risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea include:
Obesity
A large neck circumference
A large tongue
Alcohol use
Smoking tobacco
Prescription medications
Nasal congestion
Serious Consequences of Untreated Sleep Apnea and Snoring
There is a direct correlation between health conditions such as sleep apnea and heart problems, sleep apnea and diabetes and sleep apnea and dementia.
Sleep apnea leaves you exhausted throughout the day and completely drains you of your energy. It’s a serious medical condition that can be life-threatening if it’s ignored or misdiagnosed. Nearly 80% of moderate to severe cases of OSA go undiagnosed which leads to further health complications down the road.
There have been many cases of untreated sleep apnea and snoring that have been shown to lead to serious consequences to a person’s health, such as:
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Sleep Deprivation
Strokes
Type 2 diabetes
Depression
Liver problems
Erectile dysfunction
Motor vehicle accidents
Receiving a Sleep Study
If you or a loved one is a habitual snorer and have noticed any of these symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, the next step is to seek a sleep study. At Michigan Dental Center for Sleep Apnea and Snoring, we offer a complimentary sleep assessment to help you find proper a diagnosis.
Once you’ve completed this evaluation, you may take it in for your sleep study appointment to help provide an entire analysis for your physician. After you’ve been diagnosed, you may find effective treatments for your sleep apnea here in Southfield, MI with Dr. Bogrow.
If you’ve already been diagnosed and have been using a CPAP, but can’t comply with the bulky, inconvenient mask, he offers a variety of alternatives to CPAP. Schedule your appointment today with Dr. Bogrow by filling out our form below.
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