You already know that smoking is bad for your health for a number of reasons and to name a few, it may cause cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. But did you know that smoking is connected to sleep apnea? Sleep apnea in Aventura is three times as common in smokers than in nonsmokers. So, what is the common connection between smoking and sleep apnea?
Smoking and Sleep Apnea
What Effect Does Smoking Have on Your Sleep?
Similarly, to how you wouldn't 'wind down' with an espresso before bed, smoking before bed delivers a strong stimulation into the bloodstream that might trigger insomnia and/or sleep-disordered breathing, rather than relaxing your body.Nicotine in cigarettes, like sugar and caffeine, is a stimulant that, according to studies, can change the expression of clock genes in the lungs and brain. But with nicotine comes long-term consequences.Smoking can lead to frequent awakenings, snoring, and difficulty falling asleep. It also serves as an irritant, causing swelling in the nose and throat, limiting the amount of space available for breathing. As your throat tissue grows more inflamed and swollen, it becomes more difficult to breathe, which can lead to obstructive sleep apnea.
Can Smoking Cigarettes Make Sleep Apnea Worse?
If you smoke cigarettes, you're more likely to acquire sleep apnea, and the severity of the condition may worsen. According to studies, smokers are more likely than nonsmokers and former smokers to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.For a variety of causes, cigarette smoking raises the risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea: it disturbs sleep cycles, fragments of sleep, damages upper airway muscle function, and inflames or increases mucus congestion in the upper airway.
Treat Sleep Apnea in Aventura
So, if you believe you might have sleep apnea, our specialists at Oral Facial Reconstruction and Implant Center can help! Feel free to contact or schedule an appointment with us to learn more about our snoring and sleep apnea treatments!
