Most people can tell the difference between a healthy tiredness from exercising, having a busy day with the kids, or even from a fun day at the beach, from an unhealthy exhaustion. If you are feeling an unhealthy exhaustion every day, yet feel as if you have been sleeping through the night, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. In most cases, sleep apnea sufferers have no idea they have sleep apnea because it occurs while they’re asleep. Usually, a sleep partner will bring it to their attention, or they will experience daytime symptoms such as chronic exhaustion.
What Is Sleep Apnea
If you are suffering from sleep apnea, you are not alone. It is estimated that somewhere around 20 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and that 80 percent of sleep apnea cases remain undiagnosed. Sleep apnea can be dangerous to your health. After all, during apneic episodes you actually stop breathing. This can happen up to 100 times in one hour! When you stop breathing, your brain will wake you, and if that is happening 100 times in an hour, it’s no wonder you are exhausted.
Snoring is caused when the fatty tissues in the back of your mouth and throat relax while you’re asleep and partially block your airway. As you breathe these tissues vibrate and cause the sound that we call snoring. Sleep apnea is caused by the same issue and that is why excessively loud and chronic snoring is a major symptom. However, when you have sleep apnea, your airway becomes fully blocked again and again and every time this happens you stop breathing.
Stay tuned for installment 2!
ABOUT YOUR SHREWSBURY, MA, DENTISTS:
At Modern Dentistry of Shrewsbury, our doctors and team look forward to providing you with the beautiful, healthy smile you desire through our wide array of dental services. Contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Pizzi, Dr. Mehdi, and colleagues by calling our office at (508) 842-8838. Located in Shrewsbury, MA, we proudly welcome patients from Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and all surrounding communities.
