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Home Sleep Apnea Are You At Risk for Sleep Apnea?

Are You At Risk for Sleep Apnea?
Land O'Lakes, FL


Man sleeping in white bed.Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the person is unable to properly breathe while they sleep due to their nasal cavity or throat being reduced in size. There are multiple causes and treatments. Working with our team at All Smiles Sleep Solutions we can discuss increased risk factors, symptoms to look for, and treatment options.

If you meet some of the risk factors, or spot some of the symptoms of sleep apnea, it can be important to your health to do something about it. Obstructive sleep apnea most often occurs while a person sleeps. This is due to the laying down positioning of their body, combined with their muscles relaxing while sleeping.

Are you at risk for obstructive sleep apnea? Risk factors include:
•  Excess Weight: An increase in weight, or excessive weight, can increase your risk of sleep apnea. This is due to bulky tissue that collects around the neck region. This excessive tissue can close the throat, especially while lying down.
•  Smoking: Smoking tobacco or marijuana, along with any constant exposure to smoke including frequent yard waste burning or campfires, can damage the upper airway muscle function leading to obstructive sleep apnea. In addition, burning any biological factor puts tar in your lungs, decreasing your lung capacity.
•  Narrowed Airway: People can have a narrowed airway due to multiple causes including their tonsils or adenoids, or a deviated septum or turbinate reduction due to inflamed tissue from allergies. In addition, a person may temporarily experience obstructive sleep apnea during a period of nasal congestion from allergies or sickness.
•  Other Medical Conditions: A wide range of other medical conditions can increase your risk of obstructive sleep apnea. This may be due to certain medications, changes to your sleeping position, and other body changes due to the health condition.
•  Male: Studies indicate that men are at risk two to three times higher than women in developing obstructive sleep apnea. This is primarily due to structural differences in their throat, and circumference differences in neck size comparison.
•  Alcohol Use: Alcohol consumption can help more than your nerves relax, it causes your muscles to relax as well. Increased relaxation in the muscles in your throat can cause a narrowing in the throat and difficulty for air to pass.

A person with obstructive sleep apnea will have brief moments multiple times a night of not getting the oxygen their body needs. When the lack of oxygen occurs, the brain releases a stress hormone causing the person to wake just enough to take a large breath. For some, this release of stress hormones and waking the person, can occur hundreds of times in the night.

Sleep apnea can be dangerous for your health. There are both immediate and long term problems that can arise. Immediate problems are associated with decreased REM sleep. People may wake feeling unrested, foggy in their thinking, and irritable. Some patients even report waking with a migraine. Long term problems from the constant release of stress hormones and inadequate sleep can cause high blood pressure, increasing your risk of stroke and heart disease.

Schedule an Appointment


If you think you may be at risk for sleep apnea, contact All Smiles Sleep Solutions at 813-345-8580 to schedule an appointment with us.
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All Smiles Sleep Solutions
17200 Camelot Ct. UNIT 101,
Land O’Lakes, FL 34638-7279
Call 813-345-8580

Satellite Location:
1180 Ponce DeLeon, Suite 401
Clearwater, FL 34756
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Sleep Apnea Risk | All Smiles Sleep Solutions | Land O'Lakes, FL
At All Smiles Sleep Solutions, we can discuss increased risk factors, symptoms to look for, and treatment options of sleep apnea. 😴
All Smiles Sleep Solutions - Dr. Joseph Grimaudo DMD, 17200 Camelot Ct. UNIT 101, Land O’Lakes, FL 34638 + 813-345-8580 + allsmilessleepsolutions.com + 2/16/2025 + Key Phrases: Sleep Apnea Land O Lakes FL +