Sleep Apnea – Basic Facts

While 1 in 22 Americans are known to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the undiagnosed population is believed to be twice that number.

OSA is an epidemic linked to these risk factors:

• Obesity
• Aging
• Alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• High Blood Pressure
• Menopause – with estrogen depletion

Consequences of OSA include:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• High blood pressure

The most common remedy for OSA is CPAP.  Many patients are unable to wear a CPAP machine.  Dental appliances can be extremely effective in cases of mild to moderate OSA.