Nothing beats a good night’s sleep. You wake up feeling rested, rejuvenated, and ready to start your day. No matter how old you are, getting the right amount of rest is vital to keeping your body and mind healthy.
Then there’s a disorder called sleep apnea that comes along and messes it all up. Goodbye good night’s sleep, hello days of feeling exhausted and depressed. That’s no fun! Your Woodlands dentist will tell you, sleep apnea is a real problem for so many Americans.
You may be going to bed each night, thinking you’re doing your very best to get enough rest but, if you’ve got sleep apnea, you might be waking up hundreds of times every night — without even knowing it! You wake up tired and struggle with excessive sleepiness all day long. This is why your Woodlands dentist feels it’s so important to spread the word about this deadly disease.
Are You At Risk?
The most common form of this disorder is known as obstructive sleep apnea. You know you have it when there’s something physically blocking your airway, usually collapsed soft tissue in the back of the throat. Oftentimes, this leads to loud, excessive snoring, affecting more than 12 million Americans all night, every night.
The National Institutes of Health lists these as common risks:
- Men are more likely than women to be affected
- Children can have sleep apnea and risk increases with age
- Family history can also increase your risk
- Small airways in the nose, throat, and mouth could lead to sleep apnea
- Enlarged tonsils can lead to sleep apnea, commonly in kids
So many people think sleep apnea solely occurs in adults, but that’s definitely not the case. It’s common in children and adolescents. The presence of sleep apnea can leave them prone to a higher rate of attention-related issues like hyperactivity or ADHD/ADD. Sleep apnea has also been known to cause aggressiveness, trouble focusing on schoolwork, and emotional problems.
How Can a Dentist Help with Sleep Apnea?
It might seem strange at first calling your Woodlands dentist when you can’t sleep, but it really all makes sense. Our dentists know your mouth, head, and jaw area literally inside and out. They have additional, extensive training about diagnosing and treating sleep apnea. They can work with your primary care physician or a sleep specialist to help you find relief and get some sleep. Learn more about them here:
If you or your child may be struggling with sleep apnea, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to get help today. Call or stop by any of our Woodlands dental offices to learn about what the steps are to solving your sleep apnea issues comfortably and affordably.