While sleep apnea is predominantly known for causing complications in a person’s ability to rest, it can also lead to bigger problems down the road if left unchecked. Not only can it cause restlessness throughout the day, but it can even raise your risk of developing issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stroke, heart disease, and cancer. With the various health problems that can arise, it’s important to understand how sleep apnea can impact your life expectancy. Read on to learn the signs to look out for with this condition and how you can address your situation.
What Are the Indications of Sleep Apnea?
Although snoring is one of the common signs of sleep apnea, not everyone who snores has this disorder. However, if you tend to wake up multiple times during the night or wake up gasping for air, you’re more likely to have this problem. Other typical indications of sleep apnea include:
- Dry mouth
- Headaches or migraines
- Difficulty with concentration
- Depression
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
What is the Life Expectancy of Someone with Sleep Apnea?
If sleep apnea is left untreated for too long, it can increase your chances of developing various other health issues, including high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, and heart attacks. Recent research studies even found that those struggling with this disorder, on average, are 74% more likely to have a reduced life expectancy. With the potential to significantly impact your lifespan and overall health, it’s important to seek out help from a sleep apnea expert so that you can treat the symptoms early on before experiencing any further harmful effects.
How Your Dentist Can Treat Sleep Apnea
Using a CPAP machine is one of the main solutions for addressing sleep apnea, as it helps force air through the airway to provide sufficient oxygen for the patient. Even so, many find this device cumbersome and noisy, making it somewhat uncomfortable to use. An alternative to this is oral appliance therapy, which allows patients to wear personalized mouthguards that help open up their airways while they sleep.
If you’re struggling with sleep apnea, don’t hesitate to speak with a sleep expert dentist for help. They can walk you through your options to determine the most viable solution for helping you get the rest you deserve.
About the Practice
At Warwick Dentistry, our team wants to ensure our patients receive the personalized and reliable care they need so they can enjoy great oral and overall health. Our dentists even offer custom oral appliances to help treat sleep apnea so that you get better rest in the long run. If you wish to know more about this treatment or want to schedule a consultation, feel free to visit our website or reach out to our team at 412-391-1130.