The fact that so many American’s are overweight has helped caused an epidemic of snoring and sleep apnea. An estimated 27% of couples over the age of fourth even sleep in separate bedrooms. Sleep apnea occurs when the tongue blocks the airway repeatedly through the night. Decreased blood oxygen levels affect the patient’s health by increasing blood pressure causing heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. Sleep apnea is a medical disorder that should be evaluated by a sleep specialist after an overnight sleep study. The Epworth sleepiness scale questionnaire used by dentists and physicians is used to determine urgency for a sleep study.
