People who suffer from chronic health problems sometimes suffer more than necessary because they postpone seeking medical attention. Sometimes, they are suffering but decide to wait until they can identify the cause themselves. This could describe many who deal with sleep apnea. Estimates place undiagnosed sleep apnea sufferers at 18 million in the United States alone. Could you be one of them?QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF SLEEP BOTH MATTEREven though you may sleep long hours, that doesn’t translate into high sleep quality. When sleep is subjected to frequent interruptions, the cumulative effect can rob you of the most restful part of the sleep cycle. This is because it can take close to an hour to return to that part of the sleep cycle after each interruption. Each subsequent interruption before reaching deep sleep can delay the cycle further. Those who experience many interruptions during the night can find themselves with no restful sleep hours at all.Difficulty sleeping          Labored breathing          Grinding teethObesity                           Daytime drowsiness       Dry mouth in the morningClenching jaws               Irritability                         High blood pressureSnoring                           Headaches                     DepressionAnd more…Sometimes, people do nothing about their symptoms until they realize how much their quality of life, and even their health, is suffering.EFFECTS OF UNTREATED SLEEP APNEAWithout treatment, long-term effects of sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, depression, memory problems, weight gain, headaches, impotence, accidents caused by drowsiness, and more.In fact, a 2013 Mayo Clinic study found that if you have sleep apnea, the risk of sudden death by cardiac arrest increased to almost twice as much as non-sufferers. The most common factors associated with the risk were being 60 years old or older, having 20 or more apnea episodes every hour during sleep, and experiencing 78% or below oxygen saturation during sleep.COULD YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAVE SLEEP APNEA?If you or a family member suffers from poor sleep quality and display any of the symptoms listed above, you could be suffering from sleep apnea. There are treatments available that could greatly improve the quality of your sleep and improve the quality of your life. Please call today to schedule an evaluation and allow us to answer all of your questions.

Sleep apnea & snoring can affect not only yours but also your partners quality of life and keep you from living your life to the fullest. Since every Sleep apnea & snoring patient has different needs, it is important for Dr Virk to evaluate you to determine which unique treatment plan can maximize results for you. If you think you may have Sleep apnea & snoring, or if you just have questions, please feel  free to contact us to make an appointment!  We can also provide you with available treatment options to not only help you get a better night’s sleep, but to improve your overall health as well.

Note: The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.