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Sleep Apnea and Car Wrecks

The Role of oral hygiene and heart health
Did you know sleep apnea suffers are 3 to ten times more likely to be involved in a car accident? On the other hand, it is possible that a car accident, or other injury, is contributing to obstructive sleep apnea. You may think how could a car wreck I had years ago be contributing to my obstructive sleep apnea? If you suffer from any particular injury that causes you to limit the positions of your body during sleep, you could be depriving yourself of a restful night’s sleep.

Sometimes people who suffer from neck and back pain avoid sleeping on their sides or stomach, inevitably sleeping on their back. Sleeping on your back makes it easy for gravity to allow your lower jaw to slide backward making the base of your tongue close off your airway. Obstructed airways result in a restless nights’ sleep. Sometimes, sleeping on your side or stomach can reduce the possibility of obstructing your airways and sleep apnea symptoms. Some people even have a type of sleep apnea that is so bad that it exists in any sleeping position. People suffering from obstructive sleep apnea may also experience acid reflux, fullness in their ears, sinus pressure, nasal congestion, or headaches. When your airways are obstructed, it can cause a vacuum effect in your airways in which stomach juices are pulled up into your throat ears, and nose causing them to bother you in the ways described earlier.
As you can already see, obstructive sleep apnea essentially causes a domino effect on one’s health. If you suffer from an injury or health condition that keeps you from sleeping in a particular position, this could be contributing to your obstructive sleep apnea. If you wake up tired, feel fatigued throughout the day, or rely on caffeine to keep you stimulated throughout the day, you may need to consider a specific sleep study to evaluate more deeply your sleep quality. It is important to take your sleep habits seriously as it can adversely affect not just your health but also your life and those around you.

Contact our office today to schedule a sleep apnea consultation in the Miami or Coral Gables area. Miami Designer Smiles is run by Dr. Raul Garcia and Dr. Conchi Sanchez-Garcia and is located at 9301 SW 56th Street in Miami Florida 33165. Call us at (305) 595-4616 today or fill out our contact form, It just may save your life!