How Treating Sleep Apnea Can Increase your Lifespan

It’s estimated that somewhere around 25 million Americans deal with sleep apnea, but a surprising amount of them don’t treat their condition effectively. Some people just aren’t very big fans of CPAP machines, while others aren’t even aware that they suffer from this problem.

That can be an issue because sleep apnea is about more than snoring. It’s a serious medical condition, and some of its symptoms can be potentially life-threatening. Here’s why treating sleep apnea is important to a good life, and how you can do that conveniently.

Sleep Apnea and Heart Health

The core issue with obstructive sleep apnea is a low blood oxygen level that results from an inability to breathe properly. When your body senses that you aren’t getting enough oxygen, it goes into a kind of panic that briefly wakes you up.

This adrenaline rush has the side effect of causing a huge spike in blood pressure, which can carry over into your waking life. As a result, sleep apnea patients tend to have a significantly higher blood pressure than the average person. This increases their chances of heart attack and stroke, among other kinds of cardiovascular disease.

Treating Sleep Apnea

If you want to lower your blood pressure and potentially prolong your life, there are a few ways that you can treat your sleep apnea. The first, of course, is a CPAP machine. Most people who are diagnosed with sleep apnea get one, and they work by providing patients with a study supply of positive air pressure as they sleep. CPAP machines are close to 100% effective at treating sleep apnea, which explains their popularity.

However, only around 60% of people who get a CPAP machine actually use it; they can be a little too bulky for some people to sleep comfortably and are hard to travel with. Many sleep apnea patients find success with specially designed oral appliances. These change the way that sleep apnea patients hold their jaw, which in many cases can be useful in treating the condition.

No matter how you do it, the important thing is that by treating sleep apnea you not only get more rest but can have a healthier heart as well!

About the Author

Dr. Deborah Romack is a dentist who understands the importance of a good night’s sleep, which is why she has decided to focus her dental practice on treating sleep apnea. Dr. Romack graduated from the Baylor College of Dentistry, and since 2005 she has worked incredibly hard to stay up to date with everything there is to know about airway obstruction and snoring. She is also a proud member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

If you have any questions about how treating sleep apnea can better your life, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (817) 594-3806.