Surprising Facts about Sleep Apnea

Submitted by New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Sat 04/28/2018 - 09:00

Sleep apnea, a condition characterized by cessations in breath during sleep, affects millions of individuals each year. But despite how common it is, sleep apnea is often misunderstood. In this blog post, West Orange sleep apnea specialist Dr. Ivan Stein shares four facts about sleep apnea that might surprise you.

Sleep Apnea Is More than Just Snoring

Sleep apnea is a complex disorder that produces a number of symptoms, not just snoring. In some cases, snoring isn’t a symptom at all. Known sleep apnea symptoms include:

• Gasping for air or choking during sleep
• Waking up with dry mouth
• Frequent urination throughout the night
• Headaches (especially in the morning)
• Fatigue
• Memory problems
• Mood swings and irritability
• Lack of focus

Because these symptoms can occur on their own or as a result of another condition, sleep apnea is often misdiagnosed. If you experience multiple known symptoms of sleep apnea, you should schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist for a clinical evaluation and diagnosis.

Sleep Apnea Can Occur At Any Age

Sleep apnea is often thought of as an older adult condition, but this is not the case. Sleep apnea affects millions of people of all ages and for different reasons. For instance, obstructive sleep apnea (the most common form of the sleep disorder) often affects children with enlarged tonsils or adenoids that block the airway during sleep.

Sleep Apnea More than Doubles the Risk for Motor Vehicle Accidents

Sleep apnea affects more than just your ability to sleep at night. One study published in the journal Sleep found that individuals with obstructive sleep apnea are 2.5 times more likely to be in a motor vehicle accident than people without the condition.

There is good news, however. The study also found that the incidence of motor vehicle accidents was reduced by 70 percent among patients who used continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines for an average of four hours a night.

Several Treatment Options Are Available

Although CPAP machines have long been used to treat sleep apnea, there are more modern — and comfortable — treatment options now. Oral appliance therapy uses a dental device (similar to a mouth guard) to keep the airway clear for unobstructed breathing during sleep. Many patients prefer oral appliance therapy over CPAP machines, as they are portable and easy to use.

To learn more about sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with Dr. Stein. Contact New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions by calling (855) 949-7667 or sending us an email today.