Sleep Apnea Greensboro, NC
Are you or a loved one suffering from snoring that ‘s causing abnormal sleep patterns? Well, snoring can often be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (or OSA).
OSA is a lifelong medical condition that affects somewhere between 18 to 30 million adults. Obstructive sleep apnea has the potential to be a very serious sleep disorder that occurs when muscles that control the tongue and throat become too relaxed during sleep. Your soft tissue may then vibrate (causing snoring) or fully collapse, which can cause you to stop breathing. When breathing is stopped, you awaken suddenly and this can cause terrible sleep patterns. Even worse than losing sleep over OSA, is the potential for life threatening conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease or stroke brought on by the disorder. Sleep apnea can have a significant impact on your quality of life, so please contact our Greensboro sleep apnea dentist today!
Symptoms And Risk Factors Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
One of the most common signs of OSA is an ongoing and often very noisy snoring. Most patients suffering from the disorder tend to have pauses in breathing while sleeping or snoring, and often gasp for air following the pause. This pattern is often subtle enough to not trigger full alertness but can alter sleep patterns enough to feel tired and groggy after a night’s sleep. Most people suffering from the disorder do not know they have snoring or breathing issues, so they will often rely on their partner or family member for signs of a problem.
Common Symptoms:
- Snoring
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Pauses in breathing while sleeping
- Decreased sex drive
Common Risk Factors:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Stroke