Protect Your Sleep And Your Health
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that causes repeated pauses in your breathing during sleep. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed (or complex) which all have different causes, but still result in the same breathing problems during rest.
In addition to disrupting your sleep, sleep apnea can impact the quality of your life and can have a severely negative impact on your relationships, productivity, and health if left untreated.
Fortunately, effective treatment for sleep apnea is provided by our dentist in Windsor, CT. Dr. Garceau will discuss your treatment options and help determine the best solution for your condition to get you the restful sleep you deserve.
How Untreated Sleep Apnea Impacts Your Health and Safety
Untreated sleep apnea damages your health in numerous ways:
Cardiovascular System
Your cardiovascular system includes your heart, lungs, and about five liters of blood. It’s essential for transporting oxygenated blood throughout the body. By causing you to wake up several times during the night, sleep apnea disrupts the way your body takes in oxygen. This can increase your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and heart attack.
Almost 50 percent of patients who suffer from sleep apnea also have hypertension. According to Donna Arnett, chair and professor of epidemiology at the Alabama University School of Public Health says, “The evidence is very strong for the relationship between sleep apnea and hypertension and cardiovascular disease.”
Mental Health
Your brain needs oxygen in order to function and quality sleep allows your brain the time it needs to repair and restore itself after a long day. Sleep apnea disrupts these processes and if prolonged, it can put you at a higher risk of developing mood disorders and anxiety.
Weight Gain
Obesity is a major contributing factor to both heart disease and sleep apnea. In fact, excess weight and obesity are the most common causes of obstructive sleep apnea. Unfortunately, sleep apnea can also make it more difficult to lose weight. For one thing, it causes your body to release a chemical called ghrelin, which is a hormone that makes you crave foods high in sugar and carbohydrates. This leads to additional weight gain. The fatigue caused by sleep apnea also slows down your metabolism, making it more difficult to lose weight and creating a vicious cycle of symptoms.
Cognitive Function
Disruptions to your sleep cycle can lead you to feel sleepy and irritable during the day but it can also make it hard to concentrate and you may experience brain fog. Sleep apnea can often be mistaken for ADHD as they share many of the same symptoms and they can even exacerbate each other. Patients with sleep apnea are also often groggy when they drive and this makes them five times more likely to fall asleep while driving. The annual estimated cost of automobile accidents caused by untreated sleep apnea is $26.2 billion.
Respiratory System
Sleep apnea disrupts your respiratory system several times every night, depriving your body of necessary oxygen. This can exacerbate two conditions that affect the respiratory system, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Diabetes
Researchers have long suspected a link between sleep apnea and diabetes, and this has now been confirmed by a recent study. In fact, people who suffer from sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing diabetes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do the three types of sleep apnea differ?
All forms of sleep apnea result in repeated pauses in your breathing during sleep. These pauses can occur anywhere between five to upwards of thirty times an hour. However, what is different is the reasons for the pauses.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)—the throat muscles and mouth tissues relax during rest to the point they collapse into the airway which restricts airflow. As a defense, the brain jolts you awake so that you can breathe properly. This is the most common form of sleep apnea and treatment is geared towards removing the obstruction.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)—the brain doesn’t send the correct signal to the body to breathe which means patients aren’t breathing as normal. The brain will jolt you awake so that you can resume breathing as a defense. This is a less common type of sleep apnea and it usually develops due to an underlying issue and thus cannot be treated by a dentist. Treatments will be aimed at treating the underlying cause.
Mixed (Complex) Sleep Apnea (MSA)—as the name suggests, this type of sleep apnea is complex because patients exhibit a combination of symptoms from both OSA and CSA. Your treatment plan may consist of treating underlying conditions while preventing obstructions in the throat.
How can I reduce my risk of sleep apnea?
When combined with professional treatment, making certain lifestyle changes may be beneficial in reducing sleep apnea symptoms. Some effective natural remedies include:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Get regular exercise ⎼ yoga specifically promotes oxygen flow
- Change your sleep position, also referred to as positional therapy
- Use a humidifier to open your airway
- Avoid or reduce smoking and alcohol consumption
Treat Your Sleep Apnea with Dr. Garceau
If you think you’re suffering from sleep apnea, give us a call at (860) 254-6189 or click the button to the right to schedule your consultation with Dr. Garceau. She’ll take the time to understand your symptoms, assess your health, and determine if a sleep study is necessary for you. Once you receive a proper diagnosis, Dr. Garceau and her team will work with your sleep medicine specialist to find the right treatment for your condition.