Sleep Apnea: A Silent Epidemic
Undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea has serious consequences. We’re here to help you understand the signs, symptoms, and when to get serious about treatment!
Almost 90% of sleep apnea cases go undiagnosed.
Airway management is at the core of obstructive sleep apnea. Patients may not be aware that underdeveloped jaws and prohibited airways can lead to sleep apnea, TMJ disorders, and other serious health conditions.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to:
- Type II Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Stroke
- Cardiac Arrest
Our team is committed to educating patients about the importance of healthy sleep, when and what to identify as potential risks, and take the fear out of treatment that can save your life!
What You Need to Know
Identifying Sleep Apnea Symptoms
What Puts You at Risk
The most common symptom of untreated sleep apnea is snoring. Just because you snore doesn’t mean you have a serious case of sleep apnea! There are other signs that are less obvious to keep in mind:
- Serious Daytime Fatigue
- Getting Sick Often and for Extended Periods of Time
- Difficulty Focusing on Daily Life
- Morning Headaches
- Dry Mouth in the Morning
Ignoring these symptoms is common, but undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea puts you at a 3 to 4 times higher likelihood of suffering from cancer, stroke, or premature death.
A lot of these symptoms are misdiagnosed as other conditions or chalked up to daily life, but a sleep test will give us the data to know how well you’re sleeping, how many times you may stop breathing during the night, and start you down a path to start feeling better, and living longer.
Certain factors can make it more likely that you could develop sleep apnea. If you have one of the factors listed below, this does not necessarily mean you have the condition.
- Being overweight
- Having a large neck circumference
- Having a family history of sleep apnea
- Using alcohol or sedatives before sleeping
- Using tobacco
- Having a narrowed airway
- Having preexisting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure
We offer at-home sleep testing for our patients to get an accurate reading of how severe their sleep apnea is.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
Risk factors, signs, and symptoms can help you stay educated on if you may have sleep apnea. However, a sleep test is required to diagnose your condition accurately. We utilize at-home sleep tests to help diagnose sleep apnea.
How is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Dental Studio of Carrollton uses oral appliance therapy to treat sleep apnea. This offers an alternative to CPAP. These devices focus on treating the root cause of airway blockages to address your sleep apnea symptoms. To learn more, contact our clinic today to schedule a consultation.