Snoring is a common – and annoying – condition. And while snoring may not be detrimental to your health, a closely related condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is definitely a health hazard. It’s estimated that 90% of people who have obstructive sleep apnea also snore. Sleep apnea has been linked to heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and more. The surgeons at North Texas Facial & Oral Surgery offer a variety of treatments to eliminate snoring and sleep apnea so that you can get the restful, healthy slumber you deserve.
An apnea episode is defined as a lapse of breathing for ten seconds or longer. Sleep apnea sufferers often experience numerous episodes each night. If you have sleep apnea, you may struggle to breathe following these lapses, which causes you to enter a lighter sleep stage or to fully awaken. You may snore, too, as air tries to push its way through the blocked passageways that contributed to the apnea episode.
Following a confirmed diagnosis of sleep apnea through a sleep study, your NTFOS doctor will recommend the treatment he feels is right for you.