As you know, if you quit smoking it will significantly improve your overall health–especially your lungs. But did you know that if you quit smoking you might also significantly improve your sleep?  It’s true! There are many factors that influence how well you sleep each night, and smoking plays a major part in that. This is how smoking can negatively affect your sleep.

How does smoking negatively affect sleep?

If you compare a smoker to a non-smoker, it has been shown that smokers are three times more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is because smoking causes an increase of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway, which can further aggravate sleep apnea symptoms. Both smoking and sleep apnea are deadly conditions that can severely shorten your lifespan when combined. They can both also cause cardiovascular and respiratory health problems. Because of this, it is so important for you to quit smoking while also seeking care for sleep apnea. It will make all the difference in your overall health.

Quit smoking and seek treatment for sleep apnea

You can further protect yourself and improve your health by kicking the habit now. Don’t hesitate or wait a day longer, the sooner you quit smoking, the better you will feel and look. In addition to quitting smoking, it is important to seek treatment for sleep apnea, too. Smoking makes the swelling in your upper airway worse, which can further aggravate symptoms such as snoring and pauses in breathing (sleep apnea).

By visiting Dr. Sara at AZ Sleep & TMJ Solutions in North Scottsdale, we can help you eliminate your symptoms. While it is up to you to quit smoking, we can successfully treat your sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy. In order to have successful treatment, you must quit smoking. By quitting your habit of smoking, you are significantly improving your treatment options and the results from treatment. And while quitting does not guarantee that your sleep apnea will disappear, it does ensure that treatment will be much more effective.

Contact Dr. Sara at AZ Sleep & TMJ Solutions in North Scottsdale to learn more about available sleep apnea treatment options and tips for quitting your smoking habit.