What Are The Risks Of Sleep Apnea?
At Encinitas Cosmetic Dentistry, we treat many patients for sleep apnea who came to our office reporting symptoms they believed to be unrelated to their sleep. However, sleep apnea negatively impacts your quality of sleep, leading those with this common condition to suffer from symptoms such as headaches, drowsiness, or dry mouth during the day and teeth grinding at night. When left untreated, patients may develop a number of additional, more serious health problems, including:
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Depression
- Sexual dysfunction
There are also certain factors that can increase your chances of developing sleep apnea. Patients who are overweight, frequently drink or smoke, already have high blood pressure, or take certain prescription medications may be at greater risk. In younger patients, men are typically more likely to suffer from this condition than women. All adults over the age of 40 are also more prone to develop sleep apnea.
Because the health risks of sleep apnea become greater when left untreated, please contact our office today if you suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from this condition. There are a number of treatment options available, and we can develop a custom treatment plan tailored to the type and severity of your symptoms.