Of all of the awful ways to begin a day, waking up after a terrible night’s sleep is probably one of the worst. Even worse than that, having this happen several nights in a row can be near maddening. Living a life without proper rest is not only frustrating, it’s also unhealthy. Studies have shown that the human body needs sleep, particularly REM (rapid eye movement) sleep to function properly. Without that sleep, you may end up cranky, tired, or suffering other health issues.
What most people don’t know, however, is that they could be suffering from a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. An estimated 60 million adults are currently suffering from a sleep or wakefulness disorder in the United States alone. Just imagine how many adults worldwide could have a sleep disorder and not even know it!
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous sleep disorder in which breathing stops and starts. If you’ve ever been woken up by your own, or someone else’s snoring, that could potentially be a sign of sleep apnea. During an average night’s sleep, someone who suffers from sleep apnea could experience up to 60 apneas, or cessations in breathing, per hour. That’s almost one per minute! Sleep apnea is surrounded by symptoms of exhaustion and lack of concentration, and has been linked to a higher likelihood of car accidents due to distracted driving. So if you suffer from sleep apnea, make sure to think extra hard before talking into the mouthpiece of that blue tooth in the car!
How can you treat sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea can be treated in several ways, but first it must be diagnosed by a doctor! The most common form of treatment is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. These machines come with a mouthpiece that is inserted before sleep and increases pressure in the airways to ensure they don’t collapse during sleep. Another treatment involves a sleep apnea dental device. Much like the CPAP machine, this is a mouthpiece for sleep apnea that keeps the airways open for easier breathing. Over 100 different oral appliances are FDA approved for the treatment of sleep apnea, so you don’t have to worry about not finding the right one for you!
Sleep apnea treatments are vital to people who suffer from this disorder. Beyond providing a good night’s sleep, CPAP machines and other treatments can save lives. Don’t let your disorder go undiagnosed!