Sleep apnoea is a condition that affects about one and half percent of British women and three and a half percent of British men. It is most prevalent in those over 40 years old. It involves the relaxation of your throat muscles during sleep, which blocks the airways briefly.
If oxygen suddenly cannot reach the brain, then the brain sends a signal to your body to wake up, so sleep apnoea sufferers have very disrupted sleeping patterns. Experiencing sleep apnoea and the resulting disruptions to sleep can make life rather difficult for sufferers. Drowsiness during the day because of insufficient sleep can slow down reaction times and sleep apnoea patients are actually more likely to be involved in car accidents. The hypertension that can be brought on by sleep apnoea can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
High risk categories include people who are overweight and smokers. Drinking alcohol before sleep can increase the chance of sleep apnoea, as can the use of sleeping pills and other sedatives. Hormonal changes can lead to sleep apnoea too. Some studies have shown that the condition runs in families.
Because your dentist has access to the tongue and soft palate, which are involved in sleep apnoea, he or she can help to diagnose the condition. You might be prescribed a mask which initiates continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to make sure than oxygen steadily flows to your lungs during the night. These can be difficult for some patients to wear and hard to get used to but they are a better guarantee than the smaller inter oral devices (IOD).
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