HAS SLEEPING WELL AT NIGHT BECOME JUST A DREAM FOR YOU?

Patients with sleep apnea, although they may experience hundreds of apneic episodes each night, are unlikely to remember them the following morning. If the individual who suffers from it lives or sleeps alone, as is common with heavy snorers, he may not be aware of his disorder even after many years.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SLEEP APNEA?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or obstructive sleep apnea, is a serious sleep-related breathing disorder.

In the person suffering from OSA, the tongue and the muscles of the upper airways relax to the point that they collapse, obstructing the airways during sleep. This closure of the airways can cause multiple brief respiratory arrests: sometimes up to 600 respiratory arrests can occur in a single night. The brain responds by sending wake-up signals to prevent the person from suffocating. He then has an unconscious micro-awakening, reopens the airways with effort and starts breathing again.

In this cycle a loud and abrupt breathing noise is often produced. The consequences of these recurrent awakenings are non-restorative sleep and health problems related to this pathology. In the morning patients wake up unrested and exhausted. They often suffer from daytime drowsiness and difficulty concentrating, which can cause, among other things, the dreaded drowsiness while driving vehicles. Loud snoring can be an important sign that a person is suffering from a severe form of obstructive sleep apnea. Untreated sleep apnea can increase your chances of having high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke. Sexual problems and diabetes can also be associated with sleep apnea.

Anyone experiencing the indicated symptoms should therefore consult their dentist.