Do you snore?

Do you snore? If you do, this is an important blog for you.

We all know snoring as a major irritant in that it causes complaints from others. Your spouse, family members, house guests, maybe even your neighbors all might have complained from time to time if you are a habitual snore. And, while it might be offensive to them, it might be dangerous for you.

Sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects breathing while you sleep. Habitual snoring is a classic symptom of sleep apnea. Snoring is not sleep apnea and it seems many people have that fact confused. We don’t want to stop the snoring and ignore the sleep apnea which could still be present. However, snoring it is a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disruption of your breathing when you are asleep. This is both dangerous to your health but it can affect your waking hours because your sleep is not restful.

The stoppage in breathing during sleep can cause oxygen deprivation. This can affect your overall health in the forms of heart disease, depression, high blood pressure, memory problems and more conditions related to oxygen deprivation. This is not to mention the irritability caused by restless sleep and how it can affect your behavior.

With my training in neuromuscular dentistry, I can help you seek a proper diagnosis for sleep apnea. A physician with proper training, and a sleep study are generally the best way to make the diagnosis of this life threatening condition. If a diagnosis of sleep apnea is made, a trained dentist, like myself can make an oral appliance that will help to address both the snoring and the sleep apnea at the same time. It may also permit a person to avoid having to wear an uncomfortable and obtrusive CPAP machine at night

A good place to start with self-assessment is snoring. If you are a regular snorer, you have a primary symptom of sleep apnea. If this is the case, why not contact me for a consultation to determine if you are at risk for having sleep apnea? It is a good idea for your overall health and welfare.