Dispelling Some Common Sleep Apnea Myths

At SleepRight McKinney, we understand that a lot of patients receive conflicting information when it comes to finding sleep apnea treatment solutions in McKinney. In fact, a number of myths surround sleep apnea that make it difficult for patients dealing with the condition to separate fact from fiction.

So you have the information needed to make to find the sleep apnea treatment solutions in McKinney that’s right for you, let’s take a closer look at a few of the myths that surround sleep apnea.

Myth: Sleep Apnea Just Causes Snoring

While snoring can definitely be a symptom of sleep apnea, the sleep disorder actually does far more to you at night. Patients with sleep apnea actually stop breathing up to 400 times throughout the night. These pauses in breathing can last anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds, and they’re usually followed by a loud snort or chortle that marks when breathing starts again. Not only does not breathing cause the brain to receive too little oxygen, it also places a significant strain on the rest of the body, and can prevent you from receiving the sleep needed to feel rested the next day.

Myth: Sleep Apnea Isn’t a Health Risk

The nightly cycle of falling asleep, stopping breathing, and having the brain shock the body out of sleep places an incredible amount of stress on the body. Patients with sleep apnea have a significantly higher risk for developing a number of health problems that include heart attack, stroke, and daytime drowsiness, which increases their risk for car accidents and other related injuries.

Myth: Sleep Apnea Only Occurs in Older Adults

Estimates report that over 18 million Americans experience nightly sleep apnea. While the disorder is more commonly reported in adults 40 and older, it can impact the sleep of patients of all ages. If you’re a man, overweight, Latino, or African-American, you have a higher risk for developing sleep apnea. The disorder also appears to run in families, so if grandpa was a loud snorer, you may want to have yourself checked.

Myth: Sleep Apnea Occurs Rarely in Kids

While the rates are lower in kids than in adults, sleep apnea is common in children, impacting the nightly rest of as many as 1 in 10 kids. Most cases of childhood sleep apnea, the symptoms are mild and the child will eventually outgrow the problem. However, some may start to develop behavioral problems or even serious medical issues as a result.

Myth: Weight Loss Doesn’t Matter

You can help to lessen the symptoms of sleep apnea when you lose even a small amount of weight. If you carry around excess weight, talk with your doctors about starting a weight loss program.

Myth: Sleep Apnea Treatments are Uncomfortable

When many people think about sleep apnea treatments, they immediately picture clunky and uncomfortable CPAP machines. Fortunately, at McKinney Smiles, Dr. Lawrence offers his patients a number of sleep apnea treatment solutions in McKinney. From NightLase, which uses a specialized laser to tighten throat tissue, to oral appliance therapy, which opens the airway by repositioning the jaw forward, we have the right option to meet your sleep apnea treatment needs without relying on CPAP.

 

Don’t let misinformation keep you from getting the quality night’s rest you need to function and feel your best. Contact our office today to schedule your sleep test, and start down the path towards a better night’s sleep.