Sleep apnea is more common than you may expect. In fact, The National Sleep Foundation estimates that this condition impacts as much as 20% of the population, with many of those people living their life undiagnosed and untreated. This can have grave impacts on not only your physical health, but also your day-to-day life and emotional wellbeing. These are likely the reason why Joe Biden has begun treating his long history of sleep apnea with CPAP therapy this year. Read on to learn more about what brought the President of the United States to finally get a treatment he needs and why you should, too!
The Causes of Sleep Apnea
The American Medical Association estimates that while 30 million Americans likely have sleep apnea, few treat their condition. Among those many people are celebrities, politicians and famous athletes, because without proper treatment, their health could go off the track. One of the most recent developments discovered during a press conference in June was that Joe Biden is now treating his sleep apnea with CPAP therapy, despite having a history of dealing with it in the past.
While getting treatment is crucial, it’s important not to wait too long, as the effects of obstructive sleep apnea can have dire impacts on your health and quality of rest. If you’re unsure of whether your symptoms are related to this condition, consider whether you have the following risk factors:
- Excessive fat accumulation around the neck area.
- Sleepiness or chronic fatigue throughout the day.
- Morning dry mouth, sore throat, or headaches.
- Fluctuating emotional stability.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
The first step everyone, including Joe Biden, must take to get their sleep apnea treated is take a sleep study. This will allow an expert to determine whether or not you’ll benefit from the following treatments:
- CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) Therapy: A machine situated on your nightstand will attach to a mask that you put over your face. It will pump air through your nose or mouth to help you breathe correctly as you sleep.
- Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT): Your dentist can create a customized oral appliance that you wear as you sleep to shift your jaw into its ideal position and keep your airways open.
- Combined Therapy: Patients with more severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea may benefit from using both a CPAP machine and oral appliance.
Why is it Important to Treat Your Condition?
Whether you’re a celebrity or regular person, living with sleep apnea can have dire impacts on your life and health, including memory issues, daytime fatigue, and an increased risk of health problems like strokes and heart disease. Although taking the steps to seek out treatment may feel daunting, the benefits of caring for your body and getting the quality of rest you deserve are well worth it!
About the Author
Dr. Prachi Shah is a skilled dentist with well over a decade of experience. She’s well-respected by her peers and dedicated to creating personalized sleep apnea therapy plans for her patients so they can get the excellent rest they need and deserve. She has completed advanced training in TMJ and dental sleep medicine and has ample experience helping both children and adults who suffer from sleep apnea and sleep-breathing disorders. For questions or to schedule a consultation, visit South Arlington Dental Care’s website or call 817-860-2222.