Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Symptoms and Risk Factors

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By Dentistry of Kingwood

Sleep apnea is among the many sleep disorders that can be considered as potentially dangerous. This disorder causes an individual’s breathing to stop and start repeatedly. If left untreated, it can cause a negative effect on the individual’s health, which may eventually result in a lot more extensive treatment. 

Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common types of sleep apnea. This condition occurs when the throat muscles intermittently relax and block the airway during sleep, often causing them to snore loudly.

What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea?

The following are the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, which includes:

  • Loud snoring
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue
  • Episodes of stopped breathing during sleep
  • Daytime headaches
  • Difficulty in concentrating during the day
  • Sudden awakenings associated with gasping or choking
  • Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
  • High blood pressure

What are the risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea?

Anyone can develop obstructive sleep apnea, no matter how young or how old you are. However, there are certain factors that can put people at higher risk of experiencing obstructive sleep apnea. This may include:

  • Excess weight. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs to most people that are overweight. Fat deposits around the upper airway which may obstruct their breathing. Certain medical conditions that are associated with obesity, such as hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome, can also cause obstructive sleep apnea. However, not everyone that is overweight automatically experiences obstructive sleep apnea. Thin people can also develop this disorder too.
  • Smoking. People who smoke have a higher chance of having obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Narrowed airways. There are certain things that can be naturally inherited, such as narrow throat and enlarged tonsils or adenoids, which can block the airway.
  • Diabetes. Obstructive sleep apnea may be more common in people with diabetes.
  • Family history. Having family members with obstructive sleep apnea may increase their risk of it.
  • Hypertension or high blood pressure. Obstructive sleep apnea is somewhat common in people with high blood pressure.
  • Chronic nasal congestion. Obstructive sleep apnea can occur to those people with consistent nasal congestion at night, no matter what causes it. This may be due to narrowed airways.
  • Gender. Men are more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea compared to premenopausal women. The rate of occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea increases in women after their menopausal stage.

If you’re suffering from a sleep disorder that causes breathing pauses, then it may be Sleep Apnea! Book your appointment immediately at Dentistry of Kingwood for Sleep Apnea Treatment in Kingwood, TX. You can visit us at 1520 Green Oak Place, Suite B, Kingwood, TX 77339.

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