Do you snore when you sleep at night? Does your partner get annoyed and miss out on sleep because of it? Surprisingly, loud snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, a situation that plagues many men, especially if they are over 40 and overweight. WebMD defines sleep apnea a “serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep.” Essentially, sleep apnea makes your brain choose between getting sleep and getting oxygen. In those circumstances, your brain wisely chooses oxygen, but that means that you’re not getting the sleep necessary to function during the day. This can lead to irritability, lack of focus, and daytime drowsiness. In addition, sleep apnea can lead to long-term effects such as high blood pressure, stroke, and heart failure.
Talk to Your Holly Springs Dentist About Sleep Apnea
Many people don’t know that sleep apnea is something that they should talk about with their dentist or even something that their dentist can help them with. Your Holly Springs dentist, however, might be one of your first lines of defense, as many of the symptoms tend to start off in the mouth. If you have any of the following symptoms, mention them to your dentist in Holly Springs when you’re next in for a visit, and he can help recommend next steps to you getting a good night’s sleep:
- Constantly waking up with a sore throat
- Restless Sleep
- Lots of snoring
- Excessive, repeated drowsiness during the day
If you have the symptoms listed above, and especially if you are an overweight male, then you very well might have sleep apnea. Because sleep apnea can lead to long-term problems, one of the first things you should do is talk to your Holly Springs dentist. He or she will be able to direct you in the right direction for talking to an expert to discuss your sleep issues.
Don’t Delay Your Discussion
While many people suffer from sleep apnea, most will ignore it as just the result of bad sleep or “oh, he just snores.” It can be a much more serious problem, however. Sleep deprivation can make your ornery and ineffective during your day, leading to less productivity at work and a higher chance of getting into a car accident. In addition, if left untreated over a long enough period of time, sleep apnea can precipitate high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attack. If you want to start the conversation with a knowledgeable Holly Springs dentist, contact Sninski & Schmitt today at 919-600-6262 or online!