Sleep Apnea is a serious medical disorder in which the patient’s breathing stops and starts throughout the night. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 18 million U.S. adults have this disorder. The disorder impacts both males and females of all ages. Sleep apnea which occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat do not keep the airway open is called obstructive sleep apnea. In central sleep apnea, another form of the disorder, the brain does not properly control breathing during one’s sleep.

Common signs of this are chronic and loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, waking up with dry mouth, difficulty staying awake during the day, lack of focus during the day, and/or morning headaches.

Below are just two of the many serious complications associated with sleep apnea:

Difficulty concentrating or staying awake: The repeated cycle of waking up and going back to sleep makes it impossible to reach REM sleep, the restorative sleep stage. Patients suffer from daytime fatigue and difficulty concentrating and staying focused. Your mood may also be irritable because of this. There is a danger when driving or operating machinery when you are not well-rested and serious injury can occur.

Heart problems: When blood oxygen levels drop during this disorder, your blood pressure can increase, which subsequently places a strain on your cardiovascular system. Those who already suffer from heart disease may suffer a heart attack or death from low levels of oxygen in the blood.

If you or someone you know could be suffering from sleep apnea, we are here to help. Please reach out to DaVinci Dentistry at 817.251.9333 to schedule an appointment. We gladly welcome patients at DaVinci Dentistry from Southlake, TX and the surrounding areas.