Snoring doesn’t always mean you or someone you love has sleep apnea. However,  it could be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea.

While snoring is caused by a number of things, including dry mouth, certain medications and alcohol use, it could also be a sign. Dental Cosmetics in Anaheim Hills explains that OSA could be deadly.

You May Not Know you Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea

People who sleep alone rarely know they are suffering, as the episodes are so quick. Sleep apnea happens when the back of the throat relaxes. It relaxes so much the brain wakes the person up so that they can breathe.

These interruptions, which could be as many as 30 times an hour, cause problems during the waking hours. People with sleep apnea suffer from higher blood pressure as well. If left untreated, OSA could lead to death.

Sleep apnea is quite common with one in five adults suffering. While no one is certain why it occurs, some people are in the higher risk category for obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Your Health

Dr. Jack Ringer, a licensed and preferred provider for oral appliance therapy and alternative therapies for OSA explains that the condition, also known as OSA, is potentially life threatening. Because it causes the person suffering to wake up as many as thirty times every hour do, it puts stress on the heart and other organs.

The connection between OSA and other medical conditions cannot be ignored. Your oral appliance specialist in Orange County explains that people with obstructive sleep apnea have a higher risk for systemic hypertension, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, COPD, stroke and asthma.

Patients with OSA are also in the high-risk category for metabolic disorders including gout, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus.

People at Risk for Sleep Apnea

• Smokers
• People who consume alcohol daily
• Obese people
• People with large necks
• People on medication
• Men
• People with tonsils and adenoids

If you have a family history of OSA, you may also be in the high-risk category for obstructive sleep apnea.

While men have a higher risk of OSA, women who are menopausal or postmenopausal are also at risk.

OSA Solutions

According to your dental sleep specialist in Anaheim Hills, mild to moderate OSA is easy to treat with oral appliance therapy and other types of dental sleep medicine.

When you schedule an appointment with Dr. Ringer, your health is discussed to determine what solutions would be best for your OSA. Everyone is different and what may work for some might not work for others.

Oral Appliance Therapy in Orange County

If you would like to learn more about oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea, call, text or contact the team from Dental Cosmetics in Anaheim Hills today.