You may have heard that if you don’t sleep well and snore a lot, you could have a serious health problem called sleep apnea. But 80% of the 22 million Americans who have it have not yet been diagnosed. Dr. Marine can help you decide whether your symptoms match those of sleep apnea and, if so, provide a simple dental appliance to prevent sleep apneas from occurring.
Apneas are brief interruptions of breathing when you sleep, causing lack of oxygen, which results in the individual awakening just for a moment without even realizing it. This is usually due to the tongue falling back and partially blocking the throat over and over during the night.
There are many problems that sleep apnea can contribute to. It may increase the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and weight gain. It makes it harder to pay attention at work, causes headaches, and raises the chance of getting into a car accident.
Studies have confirmed that sleep apnea has been linked to greater cancer risk. In 2012, the University of Wisconsin found that someone suffering from the most severe form of this is nearly five times more likely to die from cancer, while a more moderate case results in twice the risk of death than the average American.
The same year, Spanish researchers discovered that the oxygen levels in those with sleep apnea whose oxygen levels were 90% below normal for 12% of their night’s sleep were 68% more likely to develop some type of cancer.
In 2014, a 20-year follow-up study was published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. It reported that researchers at the University of Australia went back to learn what had happened to 397 original participants. While mild cases of sleep apnea caused no significantly greater overall health risk, moderate and severe cases were 2.5 times more likely to result in the development of cancer and tripled the probability of death.
Glendale dentist Dr. Marine has a solution for those who suffer from sleep apnea. After a free consultation, if treatment is appropriate for your individual case, she can have a customized oral appliance created that will keep the jaw, tongue, and tissues in the mouth from obstructing the airway.
This is much more comfortable than the standard recommendation by a doctor to use a CPAP device, which requires wearing a mask connected to an oxygen tank, while lying on your back all night (the machine is also difficult to clean).
Set up an appointment with Dr. Marine today so that you can start improving your health and stop snoring.