3 Big Misconceptions That People Believe About Sleep Apnea

One of the most concerning things about sleep apnea is that many people don’t even realize that they have it until it’s too late. It has been estimated that among the 22 million Americans that are thought to have sleep apnea, about 80 percent of them are undiagnosed. Why do so many cases go undetected? It likely has to do with the number of misconceptions surrounding sleep apnea that make many people think they don’t need to seek treatment. In this post, you’ll discover the important truth behind 3 common sleep apnea myths.

1. Sleep Apnea Only Affects Men

It is true that men are diagnosed with sleep apnea more often than woman, but that has led many to believe that only men can suffer from the disorder. However, the fact is that women can also experience sleep apnea episodes, with most cases occurring after menopause. One factor that has likely contributed to this myth is that sleep apnea symptoms in women tend to be subtler; the snoring caused by the disorder may not be as loud or frequent, and the other side effects can include moodiness, insomnia, and general fatigue. As a result, women might not even realize that they might need to see a sleep expert in the first place.

2. Sleep apnea Only Affects People Who are Overweight

Being overweight is an extremely common risk factor for sleep apnea; in fact, about 70% of adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea also have obesity. Of course, the implication of that statistic is that the remaining 30% does not have obesity, which means there are additional factors to consider. For example, some people have naturally narrow airways or thicker necks may be more prone to having airflow interrupted at night. If one of your parents has experienced obstructive sleep apnea in the past, you should be on the alert for possible symptoms so that you can see a sleep doctor as soon as possible.

3. Sleep Apnea Will Eventually Go Away on Its Own

Some people believe that sleep apnea is something that will pass in time and can thus be ignored. This is definitely one of the more dangerous myths. Untreated sleep apnea is strongly associated with raised blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and cancer – in other words, it’s linked to multiple health conditions that could easily result in death. Thus, it’s in your best interest to have a possible case of sleep apnea diagnosed right away.

In short, if you have any reason to suspect that you might have sleep apnea, you should always take it seriously and get in touch with a sleep expert as soon as you can. Let them know if you have any other questions or doubts; the more you know about sleep apnea, the easier it is to make the right decisions!

About the Author

Dr. Stephen Dean became interested in dentistry in part thanks to his own experiences as a child. He ultimately chose dentistry as a way to care for people and improve their lives in direct, lasting ways. Sleep apnea therapy is one of his biggest passions; as a member of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, he is an expert in diagnosing and treating snoring and sleep disorders. To schedule an appointment at his practice, Covington Sleep Center, visit his website or call (770) 710-5268.