HomeSleep Apnea is a Serious Sleep Disorder
16 Jan, 2012
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. This means the brain — and the rest of the body — may not get enough oxygen. This results in loss of sleep, which effects everything from work to home life to even medical and physical problems.
Sleep Apnea Risk
Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. Risk factors for sleep apnea include:
- – Mostly in the Male gender
- – Being over the age of forty and/or overweight
- – Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women)
- – Having large tonsils, a large tongue, nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum, allergies, sinus problems or a small jaw bone
- – Having a family history of sleep apnea
- – GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux)
Sleep Apnea Negative Effects
If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems including:
- – High blood pressure
- – Stroke, heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks
- – Diabetes
- – Depression or Worsening of ADHD
In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, as well as academic underachievement in children and adolescents.
Call or contact us for an appointment today and let us help you cure this dangerous issue.
