Every night, millions of Americans miss out on countless hours of sleep because of sleep apnea; and even worse, many more cases go undiagnosed! But your ability to rest isn’t the only thing that’s at risk because of this condition; if left untreated, sleep apnea can actually lead to some serious health concerns. Keep reading to learn more from your dentist about some of the consequences that untreated sleep apnea can have on your overall health.
Higher Blood Pressure
Since sleep apnea makes you wake up throughout the night, your body doesn’t just get tired—it gets stressed out, too! This can lead to your hormone systems going into overdrive, which boosts your blood pressure levels. Additionally, the level of oxygen in your blood drops when you can’t breathe well, which only adds to the problem.
Heart Disease
People with obstructive sleep apnea are more likely to have heart attacks. This can be caused by low oxygen levels. Strokes and atrial fibrillation, which is indicated by a fast, fluttering heartbeat, are also linked with the condition. Sleep apnea disrupts your body’s oxygen intake, which makes it difficult for your brain to regulate your blood flow within your arteries, heart, and the brain itself.
Diabetes
Patients who suffer from sleep apnea are also at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. Although this relationship is still being studied and an obvious cause-and-effect link hasn’t been detected, not getting enough shut-eye can keep your body from using insulin properly, which leads to diabetes. Obesity is also shown to raise a person’s risk for both disorders, meaning that maintaining a healthy weight through regular exercise and well-balanced diet can combat both obesity and sleep apnea.
Memory Loss
Sometimes, older people can have memory slips or thinking problems that they attribute to their age. These symptoms, while not as serious as something like dementia, are still enough to impair one’s condition. And research suggests that these memory slips can show up sooner in patients with sleep apnea. Seeking treatment for sleep apnea might help to stave off these memory lapses.
Daytime Sleepiness
This is one of the more obvious consequences of sleep apnea, but a serious one, nonetheless. Daytime fatigue can affect how you think, feel, and act throughout the day. Not to mention, when you feel groggy, you raise your risk of falling asleep at the wheel, which can lead to car wrecks. In fact, people with sleep apnea are five times more likely than normal sleepers to have traffic accidents!
Sleep apnea isn’t a threat to just your sleep; your whole body’s wellness is at stake! If you believe you’re suffering from sleep apnea, don’t hesitate to seek the treatment you need and get back to getting a good night’s rest.
About the Practice
Cornerstone Dental proudly serves patients and families in the Fargo area under the leadership of Dr. Stacy Goodwill and Dr. Jessica Majidian! Both Dr. Goodwill and Dr. Majidian have several years of experience and expertise in a wide range of fields and their practice is pleased to offer many available services including preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatment options. If you have any questions about the article or would like to schedule a visit, feel free to contact the practice through their website or by phone at (701) 237-3583.