You often hear jokes couples make about the other one snoring, but snoring is actually an indication that something is physically amiss with your partner. While we like to tease loved ones about their loud snoring keeping the whole house awake, snoring usually indicates some type of breathing-related sleep disorder that may need medical attention.
If you or your partner snores, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) may be the culprit. Although there are many types of sleep disorders related to breathing, OSA is, by far, the most common of sleep apneas.
If You Snore, You May Want a Home Sleep Study
If you have sleep apnea, you will likely snore, and if you snore, you may have sleep apnea. Unlike the chicken and egg conundrum regarding which came first, research has shown that snoring results from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a very common, but highly treatable, sleep disorder that afflicts millions of Americans. The short-term effects of sleep apnea are numerous and varied, and the long-term effects of sleep apnea could be harmful to your physical health and emotional well-being.
We have good news. You can take a home sleep study over the course of two nights to determine if you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. If you are diagnosed with this treatable sleep disorder, you will be directed to sleep apnea dentists in your area who are qualified to treat this breathing-related sleep disorder.
In years past, you could only have a sleep study in a clinic while lab technicians studied your results. You would be hooked up to machines, and the whole experience was quite unpleasant for many. Now, with so many advances in sleep medicine diagnostic technology, you can take a sleep study right in the comfort of your own bed.
What Causes Snoring?
When the muscles in the throat relax, the relaxed tissue causes blockages of air in the nose, mouth, and throat; the sound we produce trying to force that air through is snoring. If you have sleep apnea, your throat becomes so relaxed while you sleep that the tissue actually collapses, causing a blocked airway. When the tissue is collapsed, and your airway is blocked, your air oxygen passageway is no longer open and clear; snoring is the sound you make when trying to push air through a blocked airway.
Since snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are related, most people who snore eventually learn they have sleep apnea. The numerous symptoms of sleep apnea can be treated; there are hugely successful treatments that sleep dentists are utilizing all over the United States (you may not need a CPAP!). You need not suffer the detrimental effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea any longer.
What, Exactly, Are the Dangerous Effects of Sleep Apnea?
You may be surprised to learn how serious sleep apnea is and how it takes a toll on your body and mind over time.
The symptoms of sleep apnea are numerous:
- Sleepiness
- Fatigue
- Poor concentration
- Memory problems
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Moodiness
- Brain fog
Long-term effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea may include:
- Cardiac issues, including high blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Mood disorders
- Libido problems, including erectile dysfunction
- Depression
- Anxiety
If left untreated, Obstructive Sleep Apnea can cause any number of these serious medical conditions.
Get a Life-Changing Home Sleep Test Today
If you’ve put off having a sleep study done because you just can’t imagine spending a night in a lab, you need not put off testing one more day. You can order a home sleep study right here, and, in no time at all, your results will be evaluated and sent to a sleep apnea dentist in your area.
If you’ve tried CPAP in the past but just couldn’t tolerate that type of treatment, there are alternatives to CPAP that are proving to be highly effective. Your sleep apnea dentist may recommend Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) or some equally effective non-invasive sleep apnea treatments.
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