Sleep Apnea and Alcohol

Rancho Cucamonga’s Dr. Jia Y. Lee is a dentist with training in sleep medicine. What this means is that he can provide custom-fitted oral appliances for people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). But we’re also a practice that believes in prevention, which is why we want our patients to be aware of the connection between sleep apnea and alcohol.


People are often unaware that they have sleep apnea because it doesn’t cause them to fully wake up, but only to get less restful sleep as their body struggles for air. In people with OSA, the soft tissues of the throat sag, causing them to move their jaws in an attempt to get their airways clear. Alcohol is a muscle relaxant, making it likelier that people who drink it will have obstructed breathing, even if they do not normally have OSA.


An increased likelihood of obstructed breathing is not the only way alcohol disrupts sleep. It also causes the drinker to take longer to wake up if they stop breathing, which dangerously decreases the amount of oxygen in their blood. Our night guards can help keep patients’ airways open and spare their teeth from being ground down, but patients would do well to avoid drinking before bed.


Dr. Jia Y. Lee operates at 9477 Haven Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, California, 91730. To schedule an appointment, call 909-989-5598 or visit MyRanchoCucamongaDentist.com.


 

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