Sleep apnea is a very serious sleeping disorder that is treated by a variety of health professionals, including dentists. As uncommon as most people may think it is, it actually affects a lot of people each night.
Although some people may not even realize that they suffer from sleep apnea, it can be very dangerous if it is ignored. Being aware of what sleep apnea is and what happens if it goes untreated can be helpful to someone who isn’t sure whether or not they are being affected by it. Find out more in this article as we outline what a dentist has to say about untreated sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes a person to repeatedly stop breathing throughout the night when they are asleep. The throat muscles will relax while a person is sleeping, which causes the airway to collapse, resulting in momentary lapses of paused breathing. Below, we have listed a few things that may happen when sleep apnea isn’t treated, as answered by a dentist.
Dentists state that a person is likely going to experience ongoing disrupted sleep if their sleep apnea goes untreated. Because sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing while they are asleep, they’re likely to also experience difficulty remaining asleep throughout the night, which can result in headaches, fatigue and even stress.
Because sleep apnea causes a person’s body to react strongly each time the breathing stops, a person may develop high blood pressure if their sleep apnea isn’t treated by a health professional, such as a dentist. When the body has to work overtime to receive more oxygen, it is likely that one’s blood pressure will spike due to the stress on the heart, lungs and brain.
When asking a dentist what happens if sleep apnea goes untreated, one answer that they commonly give is heart problems. Because a person’s body is working so hard to receive oxygen (when sleep apnea occurs), the heart will likely feel the effects. A lack of oxygen can cause the heart to literally stop, which if repeated many times, can result in a heart attack, irregular beats or even eventual heart failure.
A lot of people are surprised to learn that dentists can help with sleep apnea, but they actually can. These health professionals are able to treat, recommend and care for sleep apnea by doing a number of things. It is best to consult with a dentist if any signs of sleep apnea are noticed.
Find out more today by contacting our office. We can help you by discussing sleep apnea further. Our trained professionals can go over different treatment methods based on your sleep apnea situation. Give us a call or stop by today!
Request an appointment here: https://familychoicedentistry.com or call Family Choice Dental at (505) 634-5657 for an appointment in our Albuquerque office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Do I Have Sleep Apnea.
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