Raising Awareness of Sleep Apnea

The National Council on Aging estimates that nearly 39 million adults in the U.S. have obstructive sleep apnea. Many adults don’t know that they suffer from sleep apnea. Some statistics indicate that as many as 80 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea are undiagnosed. Instead, people chalk up daytime drowsiness, snoring, and poor sleep quality to stress and other environmental issues.

It is time to raise awareness about sleep apnea, the dangers the condition poses when left untreated, and what you can do to get a better night’s sleep.

What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Raising awareness starts with learning more about the condition. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which a person’s airway gets blocked during sleep, typically due to soft tissue collapsing at the back of the throat. Sleep apnea interrupts normal breathing, causing a person to stop breathing multiple times per night. These periods when a person stops breathing interrupt their natural sleep cycle. Symptoms of sleep apnea can include:

• Snoring
• Morning headaches
• Daytime fatigue and drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Sore throat
• Waking up and gasping for breath at night
• Irritability or changes in mood

If you experience these symptoms, talk to a healthcare professional or sleep expert at Silent Night Therapy, who can evaluate and diagnose your sleep issue. Devices like the new Apple Watch Series 10 integrate features that help track sleep and detect signs of sleep apnea. While it is not a replacement for medical intervention, technology like the Apple Watch and similar devices can give you valuable information about your health and help you start a conversation with your doctor.

Consequences of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Quality sleep is one of the pillars of good health. When a person consistently experiences poor sleep, the consequences are more severe than simply feeling a little tired the next day. Studies show that untreated sleep apnea contributes to significant workplace productivity losses and accidents, totaling $86.9 billion annually. Another study indicates that those with obstructive sleep apnea are 2.5 times more likely to be involved in motor vehicle accidents.

Beyond the elevated risks of being involved in accidents and the costs associated with lost productivity, untreated sleep apnea can also lead to the development of significant medical conditions. Untreated sleep apneas lead to almost $149.6 billion in annual healthcare costs associated with related medical issues. Sleep apnea can raise a person’s risk of developing conditions such as:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Dementia
• Acid reflux

Sleep apnea can also lead to early death, which makes diagnosis and treatment crucial.

Contact a Sleep Expert Today

“There are effective ways to treat sleep apnea, and while CPAP machines are one option, we offer a specialized solution with our own custom oral appliance. Our oral appliance is designed to improve your sleep quality and provide a comfortable alternative to traditional CPAP therapy. The key is raising awareness about the condition and letting people know that help is just a click or phone call away.

Call the team at Silent Night Therapy at 631-983-2463 to book your complimentary sleep consultation today. Let’s find your path to better sleep.