Have You Checked Your Breathing Lately?

Poor breathing during sleep is a concern for 1 out of 4 adults. It is clled sleep-disordered breathing, and it can be responsible for sleep apnea. Kids are becoming increasingly more common patients with the disease.

The most popular emerging issues I am seeing in my practice are obstructive breathing disorders. A blocked airway can occur because of obesity, or anatomic differences in the head, jaws, neck, and/or throat. When breathing is not optimal, it creates a cascade of medical problems.

Obstructive airway disease is life-threatening. It can lead to high blood pressure and congestive heart disease. It increases a person's risk for stroke and heart attack. And sleep breathing disorders can complicate other diseases and their management.

As I continue my education and membership in the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, I have learned there are only 2 ways for patients to address this disease: You treat it and live longer, or you don't treat it, and you live a shorter life with complications.

I have started to attend grand rounds with the local sleep medicine specialists at North Sound Sleep Center in Everett, I see the impact breathing disorders have on various patients; these patients who suffer have common characteristics. I compiled a self-test anyone can take to identify their risk for sleep breathing diseases. Here it is:

I have been told that I snore.
I have been told that I stop breathing when I sleep, or I have challenges with breathing efforts.
I am sleepy during the day even if I slept throughout the night.
I have high blood pressure.
I have been told that I sleep restlessly, I am always "tossing" and "turning" while asleep.
I tend to sweat excessively during my sleep.
I frequently awaken with headaches or jaw pain in the morning.
I have been known to fall asleep/nod off behind the wheel or other inappropriate times.
Others and/or I have noticed a recent change in my mood or personality.
I am consistently fatigued during waking hours.

I am overweight.

If any of these items apply to you, you need to see your primary physician or call our dental office for a more complete evaluation. Working together, we can get you the right care.