Our Sleep Apnea Blog | I Hate CPAP

Right now, there are more than 24 million people on the planet suffering from type 2 diabetes. In a recent study, 306 obese type 2 diabetes patients were studied while they slept. Staggeringly, 87% of the patients in the study were suffering from obstructive sleep apnea but had never been diagnosed for the sleep disorder.

A healthy night's sleep is one of the most important aspects of staying healthy. For people already dealing with being overweight and having other health problems, suffering from sleep apnea can make matters even worse. One of the ways obese or overweight people can make sure they don't have obstructive sleep apnea is by having a sleep study performed by an experienced sleep apnea dentist.

Type 2 diabetes can increase an individual's risk of heart disease, nerve damage, blindness, and kidney damage. What's worse is that sleep apnea and obesity also affect a person's overall health in dangerous ways. Some of the dangers of sleep apnea include increased risk of heart attack or stroke, as well as high blood pressure.

Obstructive sleep apnea develops in overweight and obese people because the muscles and soft tissues in the throat weaken over time with the stress of excess body mass. This means that as you sleep, the soft tissues in the throat can close, stopping air from reaching your lungs. When this happens, the body wakes up momentarily to clear the airway, preventing you from getting the deep, restorative sleep you need.

If you are feeling drowsy or are suffering from other sleep apnea symptoms, or if you believe your partner has sleep apnea, it may be time to schedule a sleep study. Please contact an experienced sleep dentist like Dr. Ira Shapira in Gurnee, Illinois who can help you diagnose and treat your obstructive sleep apnea.