Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Yreka Sedation DentistryEagle Point and surrounding areas of Oregon

While snoring may seem a common, harmless habit, it is much more than that, actually. People who snore may suffer from a serious medical condition known as “sleep apnea.” Snoring and sleep apnea can cause an array of health problems and can also shorten your lifespan. Snorers are 50% more likely to suffer a heart attack and often have anxiety, depression, concentration and memory problems, fatigue, diabetes, and mental disorders. While many people have funny snoring stories to tell, snoring is really no laughing matter at all. The dental team at Oregon’s Eagle Point Dental Center for Advanced Dentistry has helped countless patients with their snoring problem, and we can help you, too.

It is estimated that approximately 45% of adults snore occasionally while 25% of the general adult population snores regularly. Even children snore; it’s estimated that about 6% of all kids snore regularly. An article in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) indicates that snorers are involved in three times as many motor vehicle accidents than people who do not snore. Males snore more often than females, and being overweight increases the chance that you are a snorer. Snoring usually worsens with age, and snoring is usually an indication that you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

When the airway becomes partially obstructed during sleep, snoring occurs. While we sleep, the soft tissues and muscles in our mouth and throat relax, which causes the airway to become smaller. When the airway becomes very small, the uvula and soft palate begin to vibrate while we breathe in and out. That vibrating noise is what we call snoring. Because snoring and sleep apnea are so closely related and can be treated if caught early enough, your partner’s constant complaining about your snoring may actually save your life. Most people have no idea they snore until their spouse or partner mentions it and even though sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing for several seconds (as many as several hundred times a night) most people have no idea they have this disorder.

The intermittent periods of breathing cessation throughout the night deprive you of oxygen, so the chances of developing health problems increase. The following are just some of the medical problems associated with snoring and sleep apnea:

  • Cardiac problems
  • Diabetes
  • Stroke
  • Mood changes
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue
  • Memory problems
  • Concentration problems
  • Weight gain
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)

If your loved one snores, it’s no laughing matter, and snoring and sleep apnea can be treated. Some of the most common treatments for snoring include changes in behavioral patterns, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), and oral appliances such as SomnoDent MAS™.

Please contact Eagle Point Dental Center in Eagle Point, Oregon today to schedule a consultation to discuss snoring and sleep apnea. There are many treatment options available today, so there is no reason for you to suffer interrupted, restless nights of sleep any longer.




800.899.6990
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Eagle Point Dental Center for Advanced Dentistry
217 W. Main St
Eagle Point, OR 97524