Sleep apnea is more common than you may think. In fact, approximately 30 million Americans are suffering from it. However, only around 6 million people have received a diagnosis. What many people don’t know is that sleep apnea can have a significant impact on life expectancy. After all this condition can have serious effects on your health. Continue reading to learn more about sleep apnea, how it affects lifespan, and which treatment options are available.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that causes breathing to repetitively cease as one sleeps. Most people who have sleep apnea experience a variety of symptoms, including loud snoring and daytime sleepiness. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea. This is when the airway narrows during sleep, leading to breathing disruptions. These reduce the quality of sleep and can lead to some serious consequences if not addressed.
How Does Sleep Apnea Impact Life Expectancy?
You may think that sleep apnea only affects sufferers’ sleep. However, it can lead to a variety of serious consequences when left untreated. This includes issues that can be life-threatening, like diabetes, high blood pressure, liver complications, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, obesity, and more! These conditions can make you very sick or even shorten your lifespan. In fact, a 2020 data review found that people with sleep apnea were 74% more likely to die of any cause! Sleep apnea increases the risk of heart failure by 140% and the risk of coronary heart disease by 30%. The good news is that by seeking treatment, you can keep sleep apnea and some related conditions at bay.
How Can Sleep Apnea Be Treated?
CPAP therapy has been the go-to treatment for sleep apnea sufferers for many years. However, it isn’t the best choice for everyone. Many people find these machines uncomfortable and difficult to wear through the night. Fortunately, there are other options, like oral appliances. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has made recommendations for patients who are suffering from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea to consider oral appliance therapy from a qualified dentist. This involves wearing a customized oral appliance while you sleep. This helps to keep your jaw in the proper position and keep your airway open, allowing you to breathe easily as you sleep. Some patients find success with a combination of CPAP therapy and oral appliance therapy, while others see improvement from oral appliance therapy alone.
The longer you leave your sleep apnea untreated, the more dangerous it becomes. By getting the help you need, you could be saving your life!
About the Author
Dr. David J. Drummond earned his dental doctorate from Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago before entering the United States Army Dental Corps. He left active duty in 1988 to pursue private practice in Lawton where he still serves patients today. If you are struggling with sleep apnea symptoms, he’d be happy to help you get the treatment you need. For more information or to schedule an appointment at his office in Lawton, visit his website or call 580-227-8789.