Sleep Apnea & Snoring

Did you know that one in every two Americans snore? Snoring is the result of the vibration of the soft palate and sides of the throat when air rushes against them. It affects our overall health. With so many advancements in dentistry, now specially trained dentists, like Dr. Hoefs, and sleep physicians work together to correct or minimize the disorder.

For the majority of people, snoring does not involve a serious medical disorder. For others, snoring can become dangerous to our health when it turns into sleep apnea which increases risk of heart attack and stroke. Sleep apnea is a disorder affecting more than 12 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. It can affect men and women of all ages, even children.

Apnea is a Greek word, meaning "without breath." People affected by sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer, possibly occurring hundreds of times per night. Check this list to see if you have any of these symptoms:

• snoring
• non-refreshing sleep
• daytime sleepiness
• being sleepy during daily activities (driving, reading, watching TV)
• awakening with a gasp or cough
• headaches upon awakening
• trouble staying asleep
• high blood pressure
• feeling tired despite a full night of sleep