Attention! Attention! Did you know March 17th is world sleep day? Yes, it is St. Patrick’s Day, but it is also a day to pay attention to your sleeping patterns, as well as your partner’s. In between your preparation for St. Patrick’s Day, take a moment this month to consider whether you or someone you love might be suffering from sleep apnea.

Pay Attention to the Warning Signs

For World Sleep Day, it is important to pay attention to the warning signs of sleep apnea:

  • Loud snoring
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Waking up at night short of breath
  • Pauses in breathing for short periods of time a night
  • Dry mouth or sore throat in the morning
  • Chest pain upon waking
  • Morning headaches
  • Mood instability
  • Insomnia
  • Hypertension

If you, or your partner, are suffering from any of the above symptoms, it is important to contact us at Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia for more information and proper treatment.

Understanding Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which breathing stops or gets shallow while sleeping—this is a very serious and dangerous condition. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, an estimated 22 million American adults suffer from sleep apnea. However, about 80% of those people go undiagnosed.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is when a person doesn’t have enough air flowing into the lungs through the mouth during sleep because the airway collapses. When this happens, oxygen levels decrease and normal breathing will begin again with a loud snort or choking sound. Sleep is often not restful because sufferers move out of a deep sleep and into a light sleep several times throughout the night. This results in poor quality of sleep.

The Risks of Sleep Apnea

According to the National Institute of Health, sleep disorders are associated with a growing number of medical problems, such as:

  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Hypertension
  • Cancer

Without proper care, you are putting yourself at a higher risk of certain diseases and further complications.

Contact Dr. Mayoor Patel at Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia for more information on sleep apnea and the steps to take toward improved health.