While sleep apnea is the most common sleep breathing disorder, there are many types of conditions which can affect your ability to breathe normally while asleep. Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) describes a set of disorders characterized by abnormal respiratory patterns and insufficient oxygen intake during sleep. Sleep disordered breathing causes disruption to your sleep pattern over a long period of time, causing you to be tired and exhausted and putting strain on your nervous system and major organs.

Common sleep breathing disorders include:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Snoring
• Central Sleep Apnea
• Child Sleep Apnea
• Infant Sleep Apnea
• Sleep Related Groaning
• Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS)

Some common symptoms of sleep disorders include being very sleepy during the day (hypersomnia), difficulty falling asleep at night (insomnia), snoring, unusual breathing patterns, general lack of energy, mood and behavioral changes, and difficulty concentrating.

Healthy sleep is essential for your health, safety and your ability to function normally. Your body needs sleep as much as it needs air and food. Sleep allows your body to heal itself and restore its chemical balances. If you are not getting enough sleep, your body and mind will not be able to function properly and you will see a negative impact on your overall health. Sleep deprivation contributes to a number of problems, including:

• Problems with the central nervous system and immune system
• Issues with the respiratory system
• Issues with the digestive system
• Hormone production
• Weight gain
• Impaired short- and long-term memory
• Difficulty concentrating
• Daytime drowsiness and excessive sleepiness
• Fatigue
• Anxiety, depression and mood changes
• High blood pressure
• Increased risk of diabetes and heart disease
• Poor balance
• Alzheimer’s

If you believe that you or a loved one are suffering from a sleep breathing disorder, we encourage you to contact our office and make an appointment with our dentist. We are committed to helping you maintain good health and improve your quality of life.