Dangers of Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is a condition that affects your quality of sleep. When you have sleep apnea, you stop breathing for several seconds, several times a night. Every time you stop breathing, you wake up, even if you are completely unaware that it is happening. Waking up also affects your sleep cycles, causing your body to have to restart the cycles all over again. When you wake up, you feel more exhausted than when you first went to bed. Sleep apnea does more than just leave you feeling sleeping though. It can lead to several serious issues. Raptou Family Dental can help.High Blood PressureWhen you stop breathing and then wake up, your body becomes stressed. Sleep apnea causes this to happen numerous times throughout the night. Your hormone systems go into overdrive, which causes your blood pressure to spike. With sleep apnea, this happens night after night, which causes your blood pressure to remain elevated, even when you are awake. Additionally, the lack of oxygen causes the oxygen levels in your blood to drop, which can also contribute to the problem. If you already have high blood pressure, sleep apnea can cause it to become worse. Heart DiseaseThose with sleep apnea are at a greater risk of experiencing heart-related issues, including heart attacks, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. This can be caused by the constant stress of waking up several times each night or due to the lower oxygen levels in your blood. The lack of oxygen in your blood also makes it more difficult for your brain to control blood flow in your arteries as well as in your brain. DiabetesSleep apnea can affect the ability of your body to properly use insulin, which can affect your blood sugar levels, which can contribute to Type 2 diabetes. Sleep apnea is also common among those who have Type 2 diabetes. Obesity raises your risk for developing both OSA, or obstructive sleep apnea, and Type 2 diabetes. Poor ImmunitySleep is essential for your body to rest and repair itself. When you do not sleep properly, your immune system suffers. Sleep apnea can weaken your immune system. When this happens, you are placed at a greater risk for developing infections and illnesses, and your body has a more difficult time recovering from these issues once they have developed. Falling Asleep During the DayWith sleep apnea, you wake up feeling exhausted. You feel excessively tired throughout the day, but you cannot get enough sleep at night to feel rested the next day. Feeling tired day after day can lead to extreme daytime sleepiness and even falling asleep. You might find yourself drifting off at your desk or during a meeting. You may even fall asleep while doing dangerous tasks, including while driving a car or operating other heavy machinery. DepressionSleep apnea can take a major toll on your mental well-being as well. You may find yourself overly irritable and easily frustrated. You may also find it difficult to control your other emotions as well. This can have a major impact on your social and work life and can also lead to depression. Sleep apnea is more than just leaving your feeling groggy day after day. It is a serious condition that can significantly affect every aspect of your life and can lead to dangerous effects. For more information on sleep apnea, and to find out what treatments we can offer, call Raptou Family Dental today at (614) 427-0449. |
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