Leon D James DDS, MBA PLLC

Finding out that you have obstructive sleep apnea is equal parts relief and uncertainty. On the one hand, you’ve finally discovered the cause of your snoring, daytime sleepiness, and cognitive changes. On the other hand, you’re left with a choice, should you use CPAP or oral appliance therapy to treat your sleep apnea? 

Did you know that sleep apnea is 80% undiagnosed? That means that most people with sleep apnea don’t know they have it or have a suspicion that they do but haven’t been tested. That’s a scary thought because non-diagnosis means non-treatment. And when you go without sleep apnea treatment, you succumb to sleep apnea’s symptoms and put yourself at risk for other conditions that can arise due to sleep apnea.

Learning that you have sleep apnea can be both a relief and frustration. Relief because you finally have answers to why you’re so tired during the day, wake up with headaches, and have a short fuse (among other symptoms!). Frustration because it’s just another thing you have to deal with. Sometimes it feels like the punches just keep coming.