{"id":150,"date":"2021-05-22T14:19:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-22T14:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thewoodlandssleepdentist.com\/blog\/?p=150"},"modified":"2021-06-15T14:23:56","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T14:23:56","slug":"sleep-apnea-on-the-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thewoodlandssleepdentist.com\/blog\/2021\/05\/sleep-apnea-on-the-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Why are Sleep Apnea Cases Increasing?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In recent years, the prevalence of sleep apnea in the United States has been on the rise. Across the country, more and more people are discovering that they\u2019re suffering from breathing problems at night, and about 38,000 people die with this sleep disorder as a complicating factor every year. If you want to keep yourself safe, you need to understand why sleep apnea has become more widespread so that you can address the potential risk factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Contributing to the Rise in Sleep Apnea Cases?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A big part of the rise in sleep apnea cases is the fact that obesity is also becoming more widespread. Federal health officials in 2020 noted that in 2017-2018, the obesity rate reached 42.4% for the first time. When you\u2019re overweight, fat deposits tend to form around the upper respiratory track, narrowing the airway and making you more prone to sleep apnea episodes; for this reason, obesity is considered a major risk factor for sleep apnea, and that in turn helps explain why the disorder is more common nowadays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, some experts believe that the apparent rise in sleep apnea cases is a result of people becoming more knowledgeable about the illness and its symptoms. It\u2019s believed that the vast majority of sleep apnea sufferers don\u2019t even realize they have the condition, which in turn leads to them never seeking treatment and thus not being diagnosed properly. But thanks to more people being aware of sleep apnea and how to recognize it, it\u2019s more likely that they\u2019ll be able to recognize a potential disorder early on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself from Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So how can you keep yourself safe from sleep apnea? Obviously, maintaining a healthy weight goes a long way towards minimizing the risk; that means getting plenty of exercise and being conscious about your diet. Talk to your regular physician for other ideas regarding weight control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are other steps you can take to lower the risk as well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n