OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

Snoring is more than just a loud and annoying noise, it can be an indicator of a Sleep Breathing Disorder (SBD) such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) that can be very serious:

-70% of heart attack patients have OSA
-43% of patients with mild OSA have high blood pressure
-100,000 car accidents annually are connected to drivers with OSA
-86% of obese type 2 diabetic patients suffer from sleep apnea
-OSA patients have 4x more at risk for stroke

Approximately 42 million Americans have an SBD and 85% have been undiagnosed.

It can also affect a person’s concentration and fitness to a great degree. Even young adults and children can suffer from it.

The most common form of SBD is Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a medical condition where your tongue and soft tissues close off your airway and stop air from entering your lungs.

-Sleep Apnea can also cause memory problems, weight gain, impotence, and headaches if not treated.
-Untreated OSA can lead to a 30% or higher reduced survivability rate over the course of 20 years.
-Drowsy driving is responsible for, at the very least, 100,000 car accidents, 40,000 injuries, and 1,550 deaths per year.
-Approximately 38,000 deaths occur on an annual basis that relates to cardiovascular problems that in one way or another are connected to Sleep Apnea. These problems include high blood pressure, hypertension, and stroke, among others.

The good news is that, in partnership with our medical team colleagues, Happy Smile Team can be a significant help to you.

Here is a quick OSA simple Self- Assessment that you can for yourself. Answer the questions below and share your results with us for evaluation.

Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation:

0=would never doze or sleep
1=slight chance of dozing or sleeping
2=moderate chance of dozing or sleeping
3=high chance of dozing or sleeping

Sitting and reading__________

Watching TV_______________

Sitting, inactive in a public place___________

As a passenger in a car for an hour or more ____________

Lying down to rest in the afternoon__________

Sitting and talking to someone____________

Sitting quietly after a lunch (without alcohol) ___________

Stopped for a few minutes in traffic while driving____________

Total Score (add the scores up)____________

Talk to us about your OSA self-assessment.