Has your sleep partner complained about your snoring? Though you may just consider it a mild annoyance, snoring often indicates obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious health condition. With sleep apnea, you can actually stop breathing for brief time periods. In some cases, patients have hundreds of apnea episodes during the night that can last for a minute or longer.

The following symptoms could suggest sleep apnea:

• Constant fatigue
• Daytime grogginess
• Impaired judgment
• Irritability
• Moodiness

OSA is caused when the soft tissues collapse in the back of the throat, blocking the upper airway and causing the airflow to stop. If oxygen levels drop low enough, the brain signals a problem and you will awaken to restore breathing. While OSA causes daytime sleepiness and concentration problems, many people don’t realize that more serious issues are associated with this disorder. Sleep apnea patients can experience:

• Bruxism (teeth grinding)
• Diabetes
• Heart Problems like heart attack, congestive heart failure, and hypertension
• High Blood Pressure
• Increased risk for work-related and driving-related accidents
• Strokes

Without treatment, obstructive sleep apnea can shorten the average life span by 10 years.
After you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, which may involve a sleep study through your physician, you can talk with your dentist about treatments. Your dentist can fit you for a custom-made oral appliance that will keep your mouth in the correct position to prevent snoring and apnea episodes.

Dr. Yolanda Cruz dentistry – Sleep Apnea Treatment – Toronto Canada Dentist