What is sleep apnea?

If you are tired and sleepy during the day, then the problem may be sleep apnea (AP-ne-ah). Sleep apnea is recognized by frequent breathing pauses (from one to as many as 30 times per hour) during sleep. These interruptions cause heavy snoring, choking, gasping, or, even, a complete but brief, halt in breathing. These brief breathing pauses causes the sleeper to partially awaken which in turn results in a poor night’s sleep. These continuous interruptions to a person’s sleep leave the individual feel tired and run-down throughout the day.

Sleep apnea should be taken seriously and, if untreated, can lead to increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and other medical problems. The condition is chronic and requires a specialist to diagnose and treat. The dentists at Village Park Dental are trained to identify and treat sleep apnea. If you suffer from feeling tired and sleepy day in and day out, talk with our dentists. Help is available that could lead to a bright and wide-awake outlook.