{"id":295,"date":"2022-06-04T18:33:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-04T18:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stephenscitydental.com\/blog\/?p=295"},"modified":"2022-06-24T18:37:07","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T18:37:07","slug":"is-sleep-apnea-on-the-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stephenscitydental.com\/blog\/2022\/06\/04\/is-sleep-apnea-on-the-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Sleep Apnea on the Rise?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Man<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Every night, millions of Americans miss out on countless hours of rest due to sleep apnea<\/a>; and what\u2019s even more alarming is that many more cases go completely undiagnosed! But sleep apnea doesn\u2019t just affect your ability to get a good night\u2019s sleep\u2014it can lead to some serious health concerns if left untreated, including fatigue, hypertension, diabetes, and even heart problems. Keep reading to learn more about this condition including why it\u2019s on the rise and what you can do to lower your risk of developing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is Sleep Apnea and Why Is It on The Rise?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea is a common and serious sleep disorder that causes your breathing to pause or become shallow while you\u2019re asleep. Sometimes these pauses can last for 10 seconds or longer and can occur as often as 30 times or more in an hour. When it happens, your body must wake up to normalize your breathing, causing you to miss out on your much-needed rest. Though this condition affects many people, diagnosing it can be complicated\u2014so how is it on the rise?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea can stem from many different causes, but the most common one by far is obesity. When fat accumulates in the neck and increases its circumference, the airway becomes narrower and the increase in pressure can cause it to collapse during sleep. And as obesity rates continue to rise in the US and elsewhere, it\u2019s no surprise that more and more patients are being diagnosed with sleep apnea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other causes of sleep apnea include smoking and tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and existing medical conditions or family history. However, it is also important to note that the medical community is becoming more skilled at diagnosing and then treating sleep apnea. With easily identifiable symptoms including snoring, grinding or clenching your teeth, fatigue, and exhaustion, in addition to improved screening techniques, many cases that might\u2019ve been missed in the past are now able to be detected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Lower My Risk of Developing Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, there are many things you can actively do to keep yourself safe from sleep apnea! Consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n