{"id":171,"date":"2025-04-04T01:36:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T01:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.healthysleeptulsa.com\/blog\/?p=171"},"modified":"2025-05-22T01:39:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T01:39:00","slug":"key-factors-that-can-contribute-to-worsening-sleep-apnea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthysleeptulsa.com\/blog\/key-factors-that-can-contribute-to-worsening-sleep-apnea\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Key Factors That Can Contribute to Worsening Sleep Apnea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"a<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you\u2019re one of the millions of patients who suffer from sleep apnea,<\/a> or you suspect you might have the condition, it\u2019s important to understand how certain lifestyle factors and health conditions can impact your symptoms. Sleep apnea occurs when a person\u2019s breathing is interrupted repeatedly during sleep, often due to an obstruction in the airway. While sleep apnea treatment is possible, and undeniably effective, it\u2019s still important to highlight some of the other relevant factors in play when it comes to sleep apnea to curb its impact as much as possible. Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

4 Factors That Can Worsen Sleep Apnea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea doesn\u2019t have a definitive cause \u2013 it\u2019s normally the result of different factors, including things like, but not limited to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Untreated Jaw Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The structure of your jaw and the alignment of your teeth can influence the size of your airway, and improper alignment can contribute to airway blockage that\u2019s worse when you\u2019re lying down. A custom oral appliance can position the jaw correctly during sleep so that the airway remains open and unobstructed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excess Weight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carrying extra weight, especially around the neck, can increase the risk of airway obstruction. Fat deposits around the neck can grow in size and make the airway narrower, making it more likely to collapse during sleep. Fortunately, even a modest amount of weight loss can often improve sleep apnea symptoms in many cases!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleeping Position<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you sleep on your back, gravity is working against you \u2013 it can cause your tongue and throat tissues to fall backwards, leading to a blocked airway and more frequent apnea episodes, which refers to when you\u2019re jolted awake by improper airflow. Sleeping on your side or with an elevated head can often help with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smoking and Alcohol<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Smoking can irritate the tissues in the airway and cause inflammation, while alcohol can relax the muscles in the throat and make them more likely to collapse. Since these kinds of stimulants can interfere with your ability to fall asleep or throw off your sleep cycle, avoiding them before bedtime can help with sleep apnea symptoms in some cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional Treatment Can Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even with healthy lifestyle changes, sleep apnea doesn\u2019t normally go away on its own, and proper treatment is the only way to ensure the condition does not interfere with your lifestyle or cause health issues. Believe it or not, untreated sleep apnea can even lead to cardiovascular or respiratory issues. Professional treatment can mitigate the symptoms of the condition, mitigate the risk of complications, and ensure that you wake up feeling recharged and ready to conquer each day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our team here at Healthy Sleep Tulsa has served patients in Tulsa, Claremore, and the surrounding area for several years, offering sleep apnea treatment in the form of highly effective, custom-made oral appliances. If you have any questions about the blog or you\u2019d like to get in touch with us to set up an appointment, contact us online<\/a> or by phone today: (918) 417-1926.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re one of the millions of patients who suffer from sleep apnea, or you suspect you might have the condition, it\u2019s important to understand how certain lifestyle factors and health conditions can impact your symptoms. Sleep apnea occurs when a person\u2019s breathing is interrupted repeatedly during sleep, often due to an obstruction in the […]<\/p>\n","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-171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nKey Factors That Contribute to Sleep Apnea | Healthy Sleep Tulsa<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sleep apnea is a menace, but it\u2019s rarely caused by just one thing; there are often numerous factors in play that can trigger symptoms.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthysleeptulsa.com\/blog\/key-factors-that-can-contribute-to-worsening-sleep-apnea\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Key Factors That Contribute to Sleep Apnea | Healthy Sleep Tulsa\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Sleep apnea is a menace, but it\u2019s rarely caused by just one thing; 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