Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes a patient to continually stop and start breathing while sleeping, according to the Mayo Clinic. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and strokes, Michael said.
“It’s kind of a silent killer,” he said.
Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, morning headaches, and insomnia. According to the Mayo Clinic, men are more likely to have sleep apnea than women, and other risk factors include age, obesity, smoking and drinking alcohol.
Michael’s family has a history of Alzheimer’s disease, and since “memory consolidation” occurs at the deepest stages of sleep, he got tested for sleep apnea and found out he has the disorder. He now treats himself with an oral appliance.
Michael has treated many patients at his clinic, he said, where he offers a variety of oral appliances.
“I had someone say to me, ‘You’ve given me my life back,’ because I gave them back energy,” Michael said.
Michael’s wife, Mary Ann, noted many services, such as sleep studies, can be done at the client’s home or via a virtual appointment.
Houston Sleep Apnea
9700 Louetta Road, Spring
281-612-3153
www.hsapnea.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Sat.-Sun.
