Sleep apnea is a global health problem, affecting upwards of 100 million people globally. Here in the United States, an estimated 18 million people suffer from sleep apnea, with a whopping 23 million more who remain undiagnosed. More troubling, sleep apnea appears to be increasing in children and young adults. Normally, the sleep disorder has been mostly found in adults over the age of 50, but as more and more children struggle with obesity, sleep apnea numbers are increasing, too.
Sleep apnea wreaks havoc on your sleep, causing you to wake repeatedly throughout the night as you struggle to breathe. One particular form of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is caused by an obstruction to the airway. Obstructive sleep apnea causes snoring, depression, weight gain, cognitive impairment, a feeling of tiredness throughout the day, and can take a toll on your daily life, too.
A recent study found that sleep disorders cost American companies literally hundreds of billions of dollars each year due to accidents and mistakes incurred at the workplace. It can also damage your career, as you may make critical errors due to lack of sleep and cognitive impairment.
Obstructive sleep apnea can also cause a lot of medical problems, too. It can cause depression, obesity, heart problems, and even contribute to diabetes, cancer, and stroke.
The study even found that persons in certain fields have a higher likelihood of developing sleep apnea. Executives or those persons in high-stress positions are more likely to suffer from the sleep disorder, and they’re more likely to be obese or overweight due to stress and sedentary lifestyles, too.
Another line of work that is at a higher risk of sleep apnea is truck drivers, as they too are sedentary for long stretches, and don’t always have the most healthy dietary options available to them on the road.
Simply put, sleep apnea can be dangerous to your career and your life. If you believe you or someone you care about could have sleep apnea, speak to Dr. Mingus about getting a sleep apnea evaluation. Dr. Mingus uses facial aesthetics and growth to help alleviate sleep apnea and its symptoms. To find out more, please contact the office at 541-382-6565.