Sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects millions of Americans. At SLEEPwell in Longview TX, we have noticed a lot of misinformation about sleep apnea. We’ll use this blog post to dispel some of the more common myths.
1. Sleep apnea is caused by being overweight.
Being overweight does not cause sleep apnea, but it increases the risk. The fatty tissue that normally deposits in the back of the throat can become obstructive as the muscles relax during sleep, cutting off oxygen to the brain. The risk of sleep apnea increases with weight gain. But, anyone can get it.
2. If you snore, you have sleep apnea.
Snoring does not mean you have sleep apnea. Although snoring is connected to sleep apnea, snoring is not a diagnosis of sleep apnea. Of severe snorers, one in three men and approximately one in five women have some degree of sleep apnea.
3. If you sleep poorly, you can sleep longer and make up for it.
Studies show that oversleeping can be bad for your health. A 2014 Nurse Sleeping Study reported the results of a memory/thinking test given to nurses who slept less than five hours vs ones who slept more than nine hours. Then they compared those results with nurses getting seven to eight hours of sleep a night.
The results showed that both under-sleeping and oversleeping influenced cognitive ability. So make sure you receive the correct amount! If you can’t due to apnea symptoms, we provide sleep apnea treatment at SLEEPwell in Longview TX. We’ve helped patients throughout Gladewater, Hallsville, and New Diana, who also come to us for complete general dentistry. Request an appointment today!
Contact SLEEPwell Longview
903-663-5895
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
3121 H G Mosley Pkwy Ste A
Longview, TX
75605
