What Can You Do to Prevent Sleep Apnea?

The best way to thwart sleep apnea is to understand its causes. Sleep apnea is caused by failed or obstructed breathing patterns when you are unconscious or sleeping. Although sleep apnea is commonly linked to snoring, just because you snore does not mean you have sleep apnea. However, many individuals who do have sleep apnea tend to snore.

One important reminder about sleep apnea is that not all forms are caused by blocked airways. Although a form of sleep apnea called obstructive sleep apnea is caused by blocked airways, another form that exists is called central sleep apnea. This occurs when signals from your brain are sent to the muscles in your chest that assist with breathing, but they are not properly received.

Some factors that play into sleep apnea include age and gender. Males over the age of 40 are often at the highest risk. Other risks include large tonsils, a large tongue, a deviated septum, a small jaw, sinus problems, weight problems, and allergy issues. If sleep apnea is not treated correctly, you can increase your risk for a variety of disorders including strokes and heart attacks.

Contact your dentist to schedule an oral examination and learn about various treatments you may need if you do have sleep apnea. Please stop by Tammy Perison, DDS Family and Cosmetic Dental Care for an oral exam from Dr. Tammy Perison and our team at our amazing dentist facility in West Seneca, New York. Schedule your visit by calling us at 716-674-5256. We will be glad to help you achieve the results you are looking for!