Health Consequences of Chronically Disrupted Sleep

Depression

People with sleep apnea are five times more likely to become depressed. One in five people who suffer from depression also suffer from sleep apnea.

Hypertension

OSA is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure.

Impaired Growth, ADD, or Behavioral Problems

If your child snores, it could lead to impaired growth, weight loss, difficulty concentrating and behavior problems. Some recent studies have suggested OSA as a causal factor in ADD.

Heart Attack and Stroke

If you have untreated OSA, going to sleep could be hazardous to your health. The apnea events are associated with cardiac arrhythmias, and recent reports link OSA to an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.

York PA Sleep Apnea Treatment

Do any of these symptoms sound like you?

Excessive daytime sleepiness
Waking unrefreshed after a night's sleep
Morning or night headaches
Swelling in the legs
Sour taste in the mouth with/without heartburn
Waking in the night needing to urinate
Chest pain/sweating while you are sleeping

If any of these sound like you, you should talk to your primary care physician right away about determining whether or not you have a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you literally stop breathing while you are sleeping, sometimes hundreds of times in one night. If you wake up feeling exhausted, it is because you spent your night fighting to breathe. It is very important that you consult with both your physician and a sleep specialist to determine whether or not you have OSA.

There is no cure for obstructive sleep apnea. If you have moderate to severe OSA, your physician and a sleep specialist will work together to get you treatment. The best choice for treatment for moderate to severe OSA is usually a CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine.

If you cannot wear a CPAP, or if you have mild to moderate OSA, Dr. Currie can fit you with a custom-made oral appliance that will hold your mouth and jaw in the correct position while you sleep. This appliance works to keep your airways clear and unobstructed while you sleep, which should eliminate the apnea events.