​As many as 22 million Americans are believed to be suffering from some kind of obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. If you’re worried about whether you have this condition, it’s very important that you seek treatment right away. This is because leaving this condition untreated can lead to far more challenging health conditions. To be precise, leaving your sleep apnea untreated can put you at a greater risk of diabetes, heart attack, heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure, among other conditions.

When Should You See a Specialist?

Sleep apnea often remains undiagnosed until it becomes serious. Once you start seeing symptoms of sleep problems, you should seek out a sleep apnea specialist before the condition causes further disruption.

If you start snoring loudly to the extent that you or others notice it or are woken up; if you’re constantly waking up during the night; or if you find yourself choking or gasping for air – it’s time you see a specialist.

Choosing the Right Specialist

Your family physician may be able to handle the initial diagnosis, but a sleep specialist is best for effective treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. These specialists usually have to finish an additional two years of training in sleep medicine on top of their time in medical school and residency. You may want to seek recommendations from friends, family members or colleagues who have experienced obstructive sleep apnea.

Here at Balance Epigenetic Orthodontics, we have extensive resources to handle both testing and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. You can rest assured that our treatment procedures will meet each and every one of your needs. You can easily schedule a visit or contact Dr. Buck and the Balance Epigenetic Orthodontics team at 425-409-2180. We’ll be more than happy to help!