Dispelling These Common Myths About Sleep Apnea

You may have heard about sleep apnea before, but some of what you heard could have been misinformation. Before you head to the dentist for a sleep apnea cure in Renton, WA, it helps to understand a little bit about the problem. Sleep apnea is not synonymous with snoring, and it is not a condition that can only occur in older people. Furthermore, alcohol is not a viable sleep apnea solution and can, in fact, exacerbate the issue. Read ahead and dispel some of the common myths about sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Means Snoring

Snoring and sleep apnea may go hand in hand, but they are not the same thing. Snoring is simply one of the common symptoms of sleep apnea, and it suggests that you might consider sleep apnea treatment. Those who suffer from this condition have their sleep interrupted hundreds of times each night as they stop breathing for up to half a minute. When they continue breathing again, the snoring tends to continue as well. If you or your significant other have looked into snoring remedies before, it may be time to talk to your dentist about sleep apnea solutions.

Young People Are Safe

If you’ve heard that sleep apnea is a bigger problem for older people, you didn’t hear entirely wrong. Sleep apnea does tend to affect middle-aged people more than young people, but anyone can be vulnerable. Factors like your ethnic background, sex, and body type can also play roles in your susceptibility to sleep apnea. Talk to your dentist about your risk factors.

Alcohol Will Help

If you are drinking alcohol in order to fall asleep at night, you are probably doing much more harm to your body than good. Alcohol tends to make people drowsy, and this drowsiness can help them fall asleep; however, alcohol also takes away from the quality of your sleep. This means that you still won’t be as rested as you should be, and your sleep apnea might even worsen due to the alcohol relaxing your throat muscles. Alcohol is not a sleep apnea solution and shouldn’t be used as such.