Important Sleep Apnea Statistics
While we might dismiss occasional comments from our significant others about our snoring, it could be a sign of a potentially serious medical condition called sleep apnea. Apnea, meaning “no breath,” is a temporary but repeated stopping and starting of breathing. It is associated with a range of health problems, including heart attacks and strokes. The following sleep apnea statistics will give you a better idea of how widespread and concerning the condition is and some ways you can treat it.
Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders on the planet, with some researchers finding that as many as a billion people experience a form of it. While sleep apnea demographics include people of all ages, genders and races, there are some factors that increase your risk of developing it, including obesity.
Gender
While sleep apnea can affect people of any gender, it is more common for men to be diagnosed with sleep apnea.
- Men under the age of 50 are two to three times more likely to develop the condition compared to women.
- After women turn 50, they are almost as likely as men to be diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Age
People of almost any age can develop sleep apnea, but older adults are most at risk.
- The risk of developing sleep apnea increases as you age.
- As many as 32% of people over 65 have sleep apnea.
- Sleep apnea in children is fairly common and affects approximately 1% to 10% of children
Sleep Apnea Causes and Risk Factors Statistics
Like most disorders, there isn’t a single cause of sleep apnea. Instead, it is usually a combination of factors that contribute to the disorder.
- Being overweight is one of the leading risk factors for sleep apnea.
- Smoking is a major risk factor for sleep apnea. If you’re a smoker, you’re 1.2 times more likely to have sleep apnea.
- If you drink heavily, you increase the risk of developing sleep apnea by 25%.
- A family history of sleep apnea could increase your risk.
Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Snoring loudly at night with instances of choking or gasping for air.
- Feeling excessively sleepy during the day.
- Having headaches that last for several hours in the morning.
- Having a dry mouth after waking up.
- Restless sleep.
- Needing to get up to urinate in the night.
- Feeling irritable and frustrated.
- Having reduced focus.
Symptoms of Central Sleep Apnea
- Breathing problems while sleeping, including pauses in breathing and slow or sped-up breathing.
- Being excessively sleepy during the day.
- Waking up in the night.
- Experiencing chest pains or shortness of breath at night.
- Having a hard time focusing.
- Headaches in the morning.
If you or a loved one are dealing with a number of these symptoms, talk to us at the Beacon Dental Clinic.
Treatment for Sleep Apnea
What is Dental Sleep Medicine?
Dental Sleep Medicine is an area of clinical expertise that focuses on the management of sleep-related breathing disorders, including snoring, noisy disturbed sleep, sleep apnea, CPAP intolerance, and sleep bruxism (teeth grinding), with the design and fitting of customised oral/dental appliances.
What is Oral Appliance Therapy?
An oral appliance is a device worn in the mouth only during sleep. The device fits similarly to a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer and prevents the airway from collapsing by either supporting the tongue or jaw in a forward position, thereby opening the airway.
About Dental Sleep Medicine at The Beacon Dental Clinic
As director of the Beacon Dental Group Dr. Edward G Owens is a hospital-affiliated Prosthodontist. He has been working successfully with oral appliances to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea since 1997.
He collaborates with major hospital sleep disorder clinics and has been active in the management of oral sleep appliances and the development of Dental Sleep Medicine in Ireland.
For further information on Sleep Apnoea Treatment, contact us today
Source: DrugWatch
Beacon Dental Sleep Medicine Clinic is based in the Beacon Dental Clinic, Beacon Consultants Clinic, Dublin, D18 E7P4, Ireland
Tel: +353 01 5310088| Fax: +353 1 213 5645 | Email: info@beacondentalsleep.ie