Do You Snore?

Chronic Snoring is impossible to ignore for a good reason…

It can be a sign of a more serious condition, Obstructive Sleep Apnea. 

Sleep experts estimate that 80 to 90 percent of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients are undiagnosed and untreated. 

Many patients do not know they have a problem because they are unaware that they wake up throughout the night to breathe.  Bed partners often detect OSA because of the loud snoring that can accompany the breathing disorder.

Common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are:

 Irritability or changes in behavior

•  Morning headaches
•  Difficulty concentrating
•  Night sweats
•  Heartburn
•  Nocturia (frequent night-time urination)
•  Restless sleep

If left untreated, OSA can lead to more serious medical conditions, such as : 

• Increased risk of stroke
• Increased risk of heart disease and heart attack
• Depression
• Sexual dysfunction
• High blood pressure
• Weight gain
• Daytime sleepiness
• Social/marital problems

Because dentists see patients on a regular basis, they frequently screen patients for sleep apnea. If screening shows the patient is at risk for OSA, he or she is referred by the dentist to a sleep physician for a diagnosis and treatment.

Watch an EducationalVideo about Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Read

The Ins andOuts of Oral Appliance Therapy

by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

& Visit Our Web Site to Learn More About Sleep Apnea

Reference

American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

www.aadsm.org