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Sleep apnea can worsen other health problems by causing intermittent drops in blood oxygen levels, which can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular disorders. In addition, the disrupted sleep patterns associated with sleep apnea can also lead to daytime fatigue, depression, and poor concentration, which can negatively impact overall health and well-being.

Sleep apnea also affects children. Usually, this is due to the child having large tonsils that obstruct the airway; just like in adults, often snoring is a sign of an obstructed airway. Some of the problems common in children that have been linked to sleep apnea include:

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Mood disorders
• Bedwetting
• Problems learning
• Growth problems

Sleep apnea can also adversely affect the sleep of the bed partner of the person with sleep apnea. Please click the link to read a study done by the Mayo Clinic on the effect of Sleep Apnea and Snoring on the Bed Partner on the bed partner.

Oral appliance therapy has become a widely used and accepted method of treating sleep-disordered breathing. The gold standard therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Although CPAP is usually very effective in treating OSA, there are many patients who are not able to tolerate its use. If you have tried to use CPAP but have given up on using the therapy, an oral appliance may be for you.

The quality of your sleep greatly affects your quality of life. The good news is that help is readily available from a sleep apnea clinic and usually doesn’t require medications. If you think you may have sleep apnea or you know someone who might, please ask us for a referral to a qualified sleep specialist in your area, or talk to your primary care doctor. Treating sleep apnea can add more life to your years and more years to your life.