{"id":687,"date":"2018-10-31T17:02:37","date_gmt":"2018-10-31T17:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/?p=687"},"modified":"2018-11-30T20:43:13","modified_gmt":"2018-11-30T20:43:13","slug":"sleep-apnea-treatment-atlanta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/31\/sleep-apnea-treatment-atlanta\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Possible to Prevent Sleep Apnea?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"video-initial\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/maqJ15aM9Mc?rel=0\" width=\"770\" height=\"434\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s estimated that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepapnea.org\/learn\/sleep-apnea-information-clinicians\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22 million Americans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> suffer from sleep apnea, with 80 percent of cases being undiagnosed. While there are plenty of options available for sleep apnea treatment in Atlanta, is there a way to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">avoid <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">developing a sleep disorder in the first place? In today\u2019s blog, we touch on some of the underlying causes of the condition and discuss a few ways to possibly prevent the disorder from developing.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<h2><b>Your Anatomy &amp; Sleep Apnea<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A person\u2019s anatomy is one of the biggest factors that can lead someone to develop sleep apnea. Everyone\u2019s bodies are different, and the composition of an individual\u2019s airway can increase the likelihood of an obstruction that will inhibit breathing throughout the night. Some anatomy issues that can cause obstructive sleep apnea include:<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nasal obstructions due to allergies or a deviated septum<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Narrow airways as a result of genetics (not due to weight&#8211; more on this below)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large tongue, tonsils, and\/or adenoids blocking the airway<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Airways that are crowded by oversized organs<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on the severity of the case, anatomy issues that cause obstructive sleep apnea can be addressed using CPAP therapy,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/oral-appliance-therapy.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">oral appliance therapy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or corrective surgery.<\/span>\r\n<h2><b>Lifestyle Factors That Can Lead to Sleep Apnea<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, you have very little control over the anatomy of your airway, but you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">do <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have control over various lifestyle factors that can contribute to the disorder.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By far, the most common preventable factor that can lead to sleep apnea is obesity. People who are overweight have excess tissue in the back of their throat, which can fall down over the airways and block proper breathing during sleep. It\u2019s recognized that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/blog\/weight-loss-breathing-devices-still-best-for-treating-obstructive-sleep-apnea-201310026713\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">losing weight is one of the best ways to help prevent obstructive sleep apnea<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintaining a healthy weight and staying in shape can also <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reduce<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> already present sleep apnea symptoms, and in some cases, even cure the disorder by removing excess tissue in the throat and\/or shrinking neck circumference (people with thicker necks may also have narrower airways, making breathing at night more difficult).<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no guarantee that weight loss in and of itself will cure sleep apnea, but it can certainly make symptoms much better and is beneficial in many ways for overall health as well.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two other lifestyle factors that can be controlled are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/15\/can-just-one-drink-ruin-your-sleep\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alcohol consumption<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and smoking. Alcohol acts as a sedative, so while it can help a person fall asleep faster, it also makes it easier for the muscles in the mouth and throat to over-relax and block the airway, increasing both snoring and apnea symptoms. Reducing alcohol intake has been <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5840512\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scientifically proven<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to have potential preventative value in the condition. Additionally, observational studies have found a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4251622\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">strong association<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> between smoking and obstructive sleep apnea.<\/span>\r\n<h2><b>Help Yourself Sleep Better<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While you may not have a lot of control over the anatomy of your airway, things like your weight, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits are all firmly within your grasp. Watching your weight and keeping alcohol and smoking to a minimum can reduce your chances of developing sleep apnea.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if you believe that you or a loved one <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">already<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have obstructive sleep apnea, it\u2019s absolutely necessary to seek treatment. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that affects your energy and quality of life, and adherence to treatment is necessary for helping you breathe at night and ease negative symptoms. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/meet-dr-rodgers.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Jeff Rodgers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a sleep apnea dentist in Atlanta who has helped thousands of patients overcome sleep apnea and snoring using custom-made oral appliances. If you\u2019re tired of feeling tired, we invite you to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/request-an-appointment.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">schedule a FREE consultation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with Sleep Better Georgia. Dr. Rodgers will help you get to the root of your sleep problems, provide tips you can use at home, and, if needed, supply you with your own sleep appliance that will help you start getting better rest the very first night.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/\",\r\n  \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\r\n  \"uploadDate\":  \"2018-11-30\",\r\n  \"datePublished\": \"2018-11-30\",\r\n  \"duration\": \"T1M05S\",\r\n  \"author\": {\r\n    \"@type\": \"Person\",\r\n    \"name\": \"Dr. Jeff Rodgers\"\r\n},\r\n  \"name\": \"Is it possible to prevent sleep apnea?\",\r\n  \"description\": \"Have you ever wondered if obstructive sleep apnea is preventable? Turns out, there are a couple of ways that you can lessen your chances of developing the disorder. Visit our website to learn more about sleep apnea & treatment options: SleepBetterGA.com\",\r\n  \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/maqJ15aM9Mc\/maxresdefault.jpg\",\r\n  \"videoQuality\": \"HD\",\r\n  \"embedUrl\": \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/maqJ15aM9Mc\",\r\n  \"transcript\": \"00:04 Jeff Rodgers: There are a lot of lifestyle factors that come into play, the one most 00:08 people think of is weight. 00:10 Sleep apnea starts with anatomy. 00:12 Do you have a big windpipe, or do you have a little windpipe? 00:16 Is it a straight windpipe? 00:17 Is it kind of a crooked windpipe? 00:18 Is there tight tissue in it? 00:20 Is it loose tissue? 00:21 All of that comes into play and some of that, you have no control over. 00:25 But you do have control over things like morbid obesity. 00:29 Losing weight is important. 00:31 If you exercise, you will see a improvement in sleep quality. 00:35 Alcohol is another big factor. 00:37 If you are a light snorer, or light apneic, mild apneic, and you have ... you're watching 00:44 a football game and you have a couple of beers at the game and then you go to bed, that night's 00:49 going to be rough. 00:50 I mean, you're going to snore a lot more. 00:52 A lot of folks don't think of that, but they do know, \u2018Hey, if I have a couple of beers 00:56 tonight, I should just start out sleeping in the guest room. 00:59 My wife's going to kick me out.\u2019\"\r\n}\r\n<\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with 80 percent of cases being undiagnosed. While there are plenty of options available for sleep apnea treatment in Atlanta, is there a way to avoid developing a sleep disorder in the first place? In today\u2019s blog, we touch on some of the underlying causes of the condition and discuss a few ways to possibly prevent the disorder from developing. <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/31\/sleep-apnea-treatment-atlanta\/\">(Read More)<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Is It Possible to Prevent Sleep Apnea? - Sleep Better Georgia Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is it possible to avoid developing the disorder in the first place? 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