Sleep apnea is more common than your might think: it’s estimated that eighteen million Americans have the most common form. But surprisingly, only one of every five have been diagnosed and treated. It is one of our specialties at Poss Sleep Apnea & TMJ Solutions in Brentwood TN.
Most often, sleep apnea is the restul of a blocked airway during sleep. This most common form is called obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. Sleep apnea may also because by a signaling problem in the brain, but this is less common. It’s called central sleep apnea, or CSA.
Sleep apnea can also be a combination of these two types.
Symptoms
With sleep apnea, your breathing is interrupted during sleep. It stops and restarts, usually over and over. Since it happens during sleep, most are unaware of it unless there is someone to notice the symptoms.
Those symptoms include:
- Snoring
- Abrupt awakening
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Headaches in the morning
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Sleepiness during the day
What makes sleep apnea so scary is that left untreated, there can be serious consequences. These include:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Premature death
At Poss Sleep Apnea & TMJ Solutions in Brentwood TN we specialize in sleep apnea. Treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis. If you suspect that you or someone you love has sleep apnea, please contact us today!
