Should I Be Worried If I Snore?

Are you guilty of being a snorer? Do you keep your wife and kids up throughout the night due to your snoring? And when its time to spend the night with friends or family you cringe from the embarrassment.

While being embarrassing and annoying, can it be more serious than just that?

The short answer is yes. The reason for this is that snoring can be be an early symptom of a more serious health issue by the name of sleep apnea.

What is sleep apnea you ask? Sleep apnea is a disorder that disrupts your breathing.

Sleep apnea is split into two categories: Obstructive and Central

Obstructive is the more common type of sleep apnea people experience. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in your throat relax.

Central is the least common of the two but is more serious. This occurs when your brain doesn’t send messages to the other parts of your body that controls breathing.

Sleep apnea and snoring have been connected to many other health concerns including:

• Stroke
• Heart Disease
• Arrhythmias
• GERD – Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Headache
• Weight Gain

Please not that a dentist cannot diagnose you with sleep apnea. However, if you have been diagnosed and want to explore dental treatment options please contact Dr. Faist today at his office in Beachwood, OH.