If you’re chronically fatigued and irritable, you know it’s not just the holiday season that’s pushing you to your limits. Sure, frequent social engagements and gift-giving can be exhausting in November and December, but what about the rest of the year? Millions of Americans are unknowingly suffering from sleep apnea. It’s characterized by chronic snoring, exhaustion, and difficulty staying awake during the day.
Don’t live with sleep apnea for another restless night — seek a diagnosis and then find treatment for sleep apnea in Bonita Springs, FL instead.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of the condition, occurs when the lower jaw and tongue collapse and block the smooth flow of air during the night. Loud, disruptive snoring occurs as a result of the blockage. In need of oxygen, the brain sends an emergency signal to wake the body up. Sufferers have their sleep interrupted hundreds of times per night.
People who are overweight or obese are far more likely to experience obstructive sleep apnea. Heavy alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and medications for anxiety, sleep, or depression have also been tied to the condition.
Sleep Apnea and Your Overall Health
Don’t ignore the symptoms of sleep apnea. Left untreated, the condition has been linked to a number of serious health issues, most of them involving the cardiovascular system.
Your heart takes a lot of stress during the day, and it needs sleep at night to recover. But when you are in a constant cycle of shallow sleep and frequent waking, your heart stays on high alert round the clock. High blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke are all linked to sleep apnea. In the worst cases, the condition causes premature death.
Even if your heart health does not suffer at first, you are likely to experience the other draining symptoms related to poor sleep. The psychological impact of sleep apnea includes anxiety, depression, and a loss of interest (or inability to engage) in the activities you used to love.
How Your Sleep Apnea Affects Others
You are not the only one who is suffering as a result of or who may be affected by your sleep apnea. The condition is almost always associated with chronic snoring, which means everyone close to you is probably tossing and turning the night away, too. And did you know that driving tired is as dangerous as driving drunk? Missing just a couple hours of sleep nearly doubles your risk of being in a car crash.
Treating your sleep apnea is crucial for protecting your own health, as well as everyone else around you. Your general doctor provides the diagnosis for sleep apnea, and your dentist in Bonita Springs, FL treats the condition.
We can help you regain your restful sleep. If you have recently received a diagnosis for sleep apnea, please contact our office to schedule an appointment at Pelican Landing Dental today!
