Sleep Apnea in Athletes: Is There a Link?
Posted on September 4th, 2019
Did you know that in addition to training and physical conditioning and conscious eating, sleep plays a major role in athletic performance and competitive results? Obstructive sleep apnea affects as many as 22 million Americans and this includes adults as well as kids. And while risk factors such as smoking or having a family history can increase the odds, the latest research links increased risk for athletes and sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea doesn’t only affect the quality of sleep by leaving sufferers fatigued and sleep-deprived–studies have shown it also can affect athletic performance, whether on the court or on the field. According to one study, sleep apnea lowered reaction time in players by as much as 11 percent.
So what’s the link between sleep apnea and typically healthy athletes?
Athletes may be in peak physical condition, but having a “thick” neck is one of the risk factors for sleep apnea, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. That’s because all the extra tissue (muscle or fat) on the neck can make it harder for the airway to stay open when the body is relaxed while sleeping.
Genetics have been shown to play a role as well.
Many athletes are affected—upon his retirement from the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal announced that he had been diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Death can also be a consequence–sleep apnea was listed as a cause of the death of Reggie White, a former NFL defensive end.
A somnologist (sleep doctor) can diagnose and develop a plan to treat obstructive sleep apnea, making sure you can get a good night’s sleep and stay healthy. While a CPAP is the “gold standard” for treatment of sleep apnea, the sad reality is that almost 75% of those folks are unable to tolerate CPAP treatment. (Which is where your Houston dentist Dr. Meghna Dassani can help!)
Dassani Dentistry can fit adults living with sleep apnea with an oral appliance that can help keep the airway open during sleep. In pediatric sleep apnea patients, treatment with oral appliances can actually help grow the airway.
Whether you’re at the top of your game or in the game for the fun of it, getting the proper amount and quality of sleep is necessary to face the world. Sleep will help you on the road to good fitness, good eating, and good health.
Dassani Dentistry
1600 C Clear Lake City Blvd.
Houston TX, 77062
281.667.4070
https://goo.gl/maps/RrDfLxKQD2VZzHM7A
About Meghna Dassani, DMD
Dr. Meghna Dassani received her initial dental training from the University of Mumbai, India, where she graduated in 1996 as Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). After working as an associate for one year, she established her own practice in Mumbai, India. She successfully operated this practice for six years prior to moving to the US. When Dr. Meghna Dassani is not in the office she is at home being a mommy to her 2 beautiful girls and enjoying time relaxing with her husband. Since opening her own practice in 2011 she doesn’t have a lot of free time but when the time allows she enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, cooking, visiting with friends and family and of course SHOPPING with a Starbucks in her hand!
