While many individuals would not normally associate concerns such as teeth-grinding and sleep apnea with dental health, they actually pose a major threat to maintaining a healthy smile. In fact, both of these phenomena can be linked to the body’s natural response for survival, as grinding and waking up throughout the night occur to help regulate your breathing. While fatigue and irritability may be immediate side-effects, allowing these concerns to continue without treatment can lead to issues that pose a significant threat to your overall health. In today’s blog, your Houston, TX dentist will take a look at the long-term threats that arise from dangerous sleep disorders and how custom treatment can help.
Developing Heart Complications
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleeping disorder in which the throat muscles relax and collapse, causing your airway to become restricted. As a response to this concern, your brain may send signals to briefly rouse you to correct the issue, or you may begin grinding your teeth to help tighten the throat muscles and tend to the concern. The problem arises, however, that this leads to a disrupted night of slumber and a slew of side-effects you will experience the next day.
While daytime irritability, fatigue, and difficulty paying attention are certainly an annoyance to most, not seeking specific treatment can actually result in a frightening reality. Indeed, OSA has been tied to serious concerns such as cardiovascular problems, complications with medication and surgeries, eye problems, and more.
Indeed, sudden drops in blood oxygen levels can end up increasing your blood pressure while also straining your cardiovascular system. What’s more, those who experience issues with OSA tend to develop high blood pressure and become increasingly more at risk of heart disease. If you suspect you are experiencing symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, do not hesitate to reach out to our team today.
A Life-Threatening Concern
As time goes on, your risk of experiencing much worse health impacts increases drastically. In fact, depending on the severity of your condition, you can become at risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, and even stroke. This condition can also increase risk of abnormal heart rhythms, which can cause your blood pressure to lower drastically. What’s more, repeated episodes of this could also lead to sudden death. Please reach out to our team to schedule your appointment and learn about your options.
Disturbing Your Partner’s Rest
In addition to the life-threatening concerns that arise from OSA, another given side-effect includes disrupting a partner’s or loved one’s slumber as well. OSA has a tremendous impact on you and everyone around you, which is why we encourage you to seek treatment as soon as possible.
Learn More Today
Contact SleepWell Houston in Houston, TX by calling 713-796-9600 to learn more about your options or schedule your appointment with our team today.
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