Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects millions of men, women and children but is often undiagnosed says Herndon dentist. There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Out of the three, obstructive is the most widespread. Regardless of the differences in the root cause of each type, in all three, people with untreated sleep apnea will stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or even longer says San Jose dentist.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not actually blocked; however the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe. Mixed apnea, as the name implies, is a combination of the other two. With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses the person with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but accordingly sleep is extremely fragmented and of very poor quality. Sleep apnea is very common, and it is estimated to affect more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institute of Health. According to McLean dentist, some risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, and having a short neck, however sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues. The link to dental issues has proven to be significant.

Boulder dentist says that most people suffering with sleep apnea may be unaware of these events, even though they may happen as many as hundreds of times a night, however if snoring is involved, their family is almost certainly aware of the problem. Unaware or not, these airless episodes last 10 to 30 seconds and may cause the patient lots of trouble, especially in the daytime, having been robbed of a restful nights sleep.

If you suspect that you have sleep apnea and need to see a doctor about your symptoms, make sure to check with your primary care physician and/or you may be referred to a sleep specialist.


Disclaimer: This blog or article is for information purpose only, and should not be treated a professional advise or price protection guarantee. This blog is mainly used for search engine optimization and other commercial purposes and it is advised that readers seek professional consultation in the field of interest for more information.