There are over 19 million residents of the United States that suffer from sleep apnea. “Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or instances of shallow or infrequent breathing during sleep. Each pause in breathing, called an apnea, can last from at least ten seconds to several minutes, and may occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Similarly, each abnormally shallow breathing event is called a hypopnea.” [source] “Suffers of sleep apnea do not receive adequate oxygen during sleep and are unable to exhale carbon dioxide, causing carbon dioxide levels in the blood to rise during sleep. This condition, called hypoxia (an inadequate supply of oxygen) promotes angiogenesis, a psychological process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels. This causes an increase in vascular and tumor growth, which puts the sufferer at greater risk of developing cancer.” [source] Sleep apnea suffers could also experience choking or gasping while sleeping, chest pain, memory loss, mental functioning problems, daytime drowsiness or death. If you are suffering from sleep apnea, Sunrise Dental has state-of-the-art equipment and experienced dental professionals who can solve the issue right away. Sleep apnea occurs when excess tissue, large tonsils or a large tongue blocks a person’s upper airway while they are sleeping. At Sunrise Dental we offer oral appliances that treat both snoring and sleep apnea. These oral appliances prevent the collapse of the tongue and excess tissues in the back of the throat, helping to keep the airway open all night. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of sleep apnea, don’t delay solving the problem any longer. We offer sleep apnea solutions at all 3 of our locations including Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Call 919-878-0055 to schedule a free sleep health screening or for more information.