Sleep Apnea Could Make Your Body Age Faster

Do you give yourself time for at least 8 hours of sleep every night, only to feel exhausted throughout the day? You might have a disorder called sleep apnea that’s preventing you from getting a full rest, even if you don’t realize it. Unfortunately, if you don’t treat sleep apnea in Lakewood, it could have severe effects on your body – and might even be aging you! Learn more about why it’s so important to make sure you’re enjoying an uninterrupted night’s slumber.

What is Sleep Apnea?

During sleep apnea, your breathing is somehow frequently interrupted while you’re asleep. The most common cause is a physical obstruction of the airway, often as a result of obesity. When breathing stops, your brain will wake you up to get some oxygen. These awakenings are brief, but they’re enough to disrupt your sleep cycle and prevent you from reaching the deepest, restorative stages of sleep; worse yet, sleep apnea attacks can happen multiple times each night.

How Does Sleep Apnea Accelerate Aging?

Studies have shown that the disordered breathing caused by sleep apnea is linked to early aging of the DNA in your cells. This increases your biological age, putting you at a higher risk for age-related diseases; this only gets worse over time. The good news is that you can actually reverse changes to your biological age by changing your lifestyle – and in this case that means curing your sleep apnea so that you can get enjoy a full night’s slumber again.

How Can Sleep Apnea Be Treated?

A dentist can provide you with safe, effective sleep apnea therapy in Lakewood. The most well-known treatment for the disorder is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine that provides a steady supply of oxygen that keeps your airway clear while you’re asleep; it’s been considered the “gold standard” for sleep apnea treatment for years, but unfortunately many patients find it too uncomfortable and noisy and are unable to adjust to it.

Oral appliance therapy is usually offered as an alternative to a CPAP machine. The appliance shifts your jaw forward and places pressure on your throat, keeping the airway open. Many patients prefer this treatment due to the enhanced convenience and comfort.

Depending on your case, you might also be able to improve sleep apnea symptoms by:

• Losing weight (since obesity is often the root cause of sleep apnea)
• Changing your sleeping position (sleeping on your side makes it easier to keep your airway open than sleeping on your back)
• Avoiding alcohol before bed (alcohol relaxes the muscles in your throat and causes them to collapse and block the airway)

Your sleep dentist might have other suggestions after diagnosing your case. Remember, if you think you have sleep apnea, it’s important to take initiative for treating it; doing so well help you live a longer, healthier life!

About the Author

Dr. Sol G. Brotman has served as the Chair of the Florida Board of Dentistry and as the Dental Director for the largest health insurer in Florida. In addition to providing traditional preventive and restorative dentistry, he can also prescribe oral appliance therapy to treat sleep apnea. To schedule an appointment, visit his practice’s website or call (904) 396-4091.