{"id":170,"date":"2022-04-03T20:06:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-03T20:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.calimesadentist.net\/blog\/?p=170"},"modified":"2022-08-03T20:09:35","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T20:09:35","slug":"can-sleeping-pills-help-with-sleep-apnea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.calimesadentist.net\/blog\/2022\/04\/03\/can-sleeping-pills-help-with-sleep-apnea\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Sleeping Pills Help Me with My Sleep Apnea?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Every night, millions of Americans miss out on countless hours of sleep because of sleep apnea; and even worse, many more cases go completely undiagnosed! But sleep apnea is a serious epidemic and is capable of more than just robbing you of sleep; it can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. That said, some people try to address their sleeping problems with solutions like sleeping pills; but is this a viable way of treating sleep apnea? Here\u2019s more from your sleep dentist<\/a> about sleep apnea and how to properly address it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea is a disorder that disrupts your body\u2019s breathing during sleep. People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common form of sleep apnea, experience airway blockage during sleep that causes this disruption. When your body cannot breathe during slumber, it must wake up to normalize your airflow\u2014and this can happen repeatedly throughout the night!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This translates into poor quality of sleep; if your body cannot enter its deep sleep cycles, your physical and mental health are at risk! Untreated sleep apnea can lead to a slew of health problems including fatigue, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and even diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Sleeping Pills Help with Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some people turn towards sleeping pills to address their nighttime struggles. However, they\u2019re not intended to address sleep apnea! Some sleeping medications work by suppressing your breathing by relaxing the tissues around the airway. Needless to say, this means there is even less room for oxygen to enter and exit the body\u2014meaning that sleeping pills can actually worsen your sleep apnea. You\u2019re also at risk for several additional health complications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n