It’s estimated that 50% of people snore at some point during their life. Sleep apnea is a more serious, but also common sleep disorder. Snoring and sleep apnea are related. Many people who snore also have sleep apnea in Friendswood. But there are important differences. Why is Sleep Apnea in Friendswood So Dangerous? Snoring alone doesn’t…
Sleep Apnea and Snoring
What is the Epworth Sleepiness Scale?

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a scale that can measure daytime sleepiness based on your total score on a questionnaire. The questionnaire is made up of eight possible situations, each of which you give a score of 0-3 based on your likelihood to fall asleep in the particular situation, with zero being “no chance of…
Lack of Sleep Slows Reaction Time

Life in Houston, like other places in Texas and around the country, is relentlessly fast-paced. In the course of the day, each of us makes thousands of quick decisions. Many of these are trivial: “Boxers or briefs?”, “White or wheat?”, “Paper or plastic?”, or “Call or text?”. However, some split-second judgments have significant consequences; “I…
What Medical Conditions are Linked to Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Snoring can make for a bad night’s sleep, for you and your bedmate. But if it happens because you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it may be a sign of a bigger problem. Sleep apnea is the involuntary cessation of breathing while you are asleep. There is increasing evidence that untreated obstructive sleep apnea can…
Why You Should Take Snoring Seriously

Snoring isn’t just an annoyance. It can have major health consequences. What is Snoring? Snoring is caused by a blockage in the airway. The obstruction can be caused by: Poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue—when muscles relax they can collapse into the airway. Alcohol use and sleeping pills can make this more likely.…
Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition in which your breathing periodically stops while you sleep. It is treatable at Montz and Maher Dental Group in Friendswood. When breathing is disrupted, so is the oxygen flow to your brain. The pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or more, and they…