Untreated Sleep Apnea Affects Your Health
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, which can last from a few seconds to several minutes. If left untreated, sleep apnea can have serious consequences for your health and quality of life. Our Windsor, CT sleep dentist, Dr. Roberta Garceau can help you protect your sleep and health with proper sleep apnea treatment.
We’re dedicated to helping our Connecticut patients in Granby, Hartford, and Simsbury overcome the struggles of sleep apnea.
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?
Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, exercising regularly, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, sleeping on your side, quitting smoking, reducing nasal congestion, maintaining a healthy diet, and reducing stress can help reduce the risk of sleep apnea.
What should I do if I think I have sleep apnea?
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, it is important to speak with your doctor and undergo a sleep study to get a proper diagnosis. Early treatment is crucial to minimize the potential health risks associated with untreated sleep apnea.
Protect Your Health With Dr. Garceau
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that shouldn’t be ignored. Don’t let it disrupt your sleep and affect your daily life. Take charge of your health today by seeking professional help. Schedule your appointment now by giving us a call at (860) 254-6189 and start experiencing the benefits of a good night’s rest.