If you’ve been feeling sluggish, moody, or distracted lately, there’s something you may need to rule out in order to protect your physical and mental health.
Sleep apnea is something you may not realize is putting you at risk for all sorts of safety and health risks because it happens while you sleep.
So our team at Duffield Dentistry is making you aware of common signs and health problems associated with sleep apnea so you get the diagnosis and intervention you need in our Royal Oak, MI practice for better rest and more consistent energy.
What’s Lurking Behind Your Snoring?
Is your loud snoring just an annoying quirk your family tolerates or teases you about, or could a more sinister problem be lurking behind it?
Persistent snoring is one of the first signs a person is suffering from sleep apnea, a chronic condition that deprives you of oxygen while you sleep.
There are a couple of types of sleep apnea, central or obstructive, that speak to the specific cause of that lack of oxygen, but in either case, it creates a repeated nightly cycle that keeps you from staying in a deep, restful sleep.
And its effects are quite dangerous.
The Dark Dangers Of Sleep Apnea
Everyone knows what it feels like to lose sleep now and then. But in most cases, it’s because of an isolated or temporary issue, like stress at work or new parents who are getting used to an infant’s unpredictable sleep patterns.
The reason sleep apnea puts you in actual danger is because it’s an ongoing condition of sustained sleep deprivation and what that does to your mind and body.
Here are some of the dark dangers of untreated sleep apnea:
*Safety Risks*
When you don’t get a good night’s sleep, you’re not as alert as you need to be the following day. Imagine how much riskier it is to your safety when you lose sleep night after night after night!
Without enough rest, you’re going to battle constant daily fatigue, which means you’re more
prone to lapses in concentration at home and work, and consequently, safety hazards that put you and everyone around you in danger.
*Hypertension*
When you sleep, all your body’s mechanisms take the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate.
When your circulatory system doesn’t get that break because of constant episodes of oxygen deprivation night after night, you could develop high blood pressure as a result.
*Heart Disease*
Any time your body is deprived of oxygen, your heart has to work that much harder to pump blood throughout your body and keep you alive. Untreated sleep apnea, then, means you’re at risk for heart disease because of all that long-term stress.
*Effects On Mood*
Obviously, sleep deprivation will make anyone more irritable than usual.
With sleep apnea, though, it’s worse because you’re talking about sustained sleep deprivation over a long period of time if untreated.
What that means is you’re at a higher risk, not for a bad mood here and there, but for frequent mood swings and chronic depression.
Stay Safe With Our Sleep Apnea Solutions
You can stay safe from the dangers we’ve talked about in today’s blog by visiting Dr. Duffield in Royal Oak, MI.
With a sleep test and positive diagnosis for sleep apnea, we can determine if you would benefit from a custom-made oral appliance. An alternative to a CPAP machine, this oral device separates your upper and lower jaw to keep your airways open while you sleep. Not only will this help you stop snoring, but it will allow you to breathe without obstruction and give your body and brain the chance to rest and refresh so all your physical and psychological systems are functioning at peak performance.
Call Us Today For Help!
A sleep test and expert review of your results will help Dr. Duffield diagnose your condition accurately and determine the most effective solution.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by at least ruling out sleep apnea as a possible cause of your snoring and other symptoms.
We can help you!
Call Duffield Dentistry at (248) 721-4502 or fill out our online form for an appointment with Dr. Duffield in Royal Oak, MI.