Sleep
apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is
interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing
repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times.
This
means the brain, as well as the rest of the body, may not get enough
oxygen.
Risk
factors of sleep apnea include:
• Being male
• Being overweight
• Being over 40 years of age
• Having a large neck size (17 in. or
greater in men and 16 in. or greater in women)
• Having a familial history of sleep apnea
• Having large tonsils or a large tongue
• Suffering from Gastroesophageal reflux,
or GERD
• Nasal obstruction due to a deviated
septum, allergies or sinus problems
Sleep
apnea doesn't discriminate; it can affect anyone at any age, including
children.
If
left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems,
including:
• High blood pressure
• Heart failure, irregular heart beats,
and heart attacks
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Worsening ADHD
• Headaches
In
addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in
everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, and
academic underachievement in children and adolescents.
Treatments
for sleep apnea include lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, changing
sleep positions or CPAP therapy. Other ways to help sleep apnea include:
• Avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills
• Changing sleep positions to improve breathing
• Quit smoking. Smoking can increase the swelling in the upper
airway, which may worsen
both snoring and apnea
• Avoiding sleeping on your back
Talk to your
doctor or dentist about your health history right away if you suspect you or a
family member suffer from sleep apnea.
