And that’s why we’re sharing our sleep apnea infographic. This infographic is designed to help people know that sleep apnea is a potentially deadly condition they need to take seriously.
Why Hypertension?
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a great point of comparison with sleep apnea, because in many ways the social response to hypertension is the exact opposite of sleep apnea.
Even though high blood pressure is a condition with few symptoms, many people know about it, and they understand how dangerous it is. People self-screen for high blood pressure on a regular basis, using those do-it-yourself sphygmomanometers you find in the pharmacy. It’s something doctors always check for when you have your regular checkup. High blood pressure medications are among the most commonly prescribed in the country.
This makes it an ideal point of comparison against conditions like sleep apnea, which can be just as dangerous, but aren’t as widely recognized. If we can establish parity in people’s minds high blood pressure and sleep apnea, then hopefully people will learn to take sleep apnea more seriously. And this includes doctors, who often don’t take the risk of sleep apnea seriously enough among their patients. They don’t ask questions about it and they certainly can’t test for it during an office visit.
And it’s true–sleep apnea shares all these risks with high blood pressure, including kidney disease. In fact, it often shares these risks because sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure. Not only does it cause high blood pressure, but it can make it so your blood pressure doesn’t respond to medications.
Watch out For Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
But once you realize that sleep apnea is dangerous, what should you do next? You should look out for signs and symptoms of sleep apnea in yourself and others. Among the most common symptoms of sleep apnea are:
- Waking up feeling unrested
- Morning headaches
- Waking up frequently (You might think you have to urinate or have nightmares)
- Daytime sleepiness
- Mood disorders
- Memory of cognitive problems
In addition, you should pay attention if people are saying you snore, especially if you snore loudly or your snores end in choking sounds. This is one of the most common signs of sleep apnea, and it’s one that many people ignore.
If you do think you have sleep apnea, talk to your doctor. And if you’re looking for comfortable, convenient sleep apnea treatment in Rockland County, please call (845) 627-7645 today for an appointment with sleep dentist Dr. Mark Dunayer at B & D Dental Excellence in West Nyack.
