Sleep apnea is a sleeping condition that is common but often missed by doctors and it may greatly affect your health. This condition disrupts normal breathing throughout sleep and left untreated, it can cause many health complications. The article explains how problems related to untreated sleep apnea can impact the heart, brain and many bodily systems and focuses on the main risks of high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes.
Sleep apnea means that your breathing stops and starts again as you sleep.
Sleep apnea can be of two types—obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA). People with OSA develop the condition when the airway is blocked by the soft tissues at the back of their throats moving around and collapsing during sleep. CSA which is not as common, occurs when the brain’s messages to breathing muscles fail. Regardless of what type of sleep apnea a person has, the many breaks in breathing may seriously affect their body’s wellbeing. Cardiac diseases and disorders are problems that harm the heart.
Risks Associated with Hypertension and Heart Disease
In many cases, not treating sleep apnea can negatively affect your cardiovascular health. People with sleep apnea are likely to develop hypertension or high blood pressure. Because there is no air, blood oxygen drops and the body responds by raising blood pressure. These frequent episodes of not getting enough oxygen and then having it again place stress on the heart which may lead to hypertension and cause corollary problems like coronary artery disease and heart failure. Dangerous disturbances of the heartbeat such as arrhythmias, can lead to heart attacks.
Those with sleep apnea are more likely to have arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. Atrial fibrillation, a frequent lethal form of irregular heart rhythm, may be caused by the stress placed on the heart due to short periods of oxygen loss. Besides, when sleep apnea is left unaddressed, the added problems of hypertension, general inflammation and increased free radicals increase the chances of a heart attack.
How it affects the brain
Problems with Thinking and Dementia
The brain is greatly influenced by the brief periods of low oxygen that happen during sleep apnea. Problems with memory, attention and executive function may result from a lack of oxygen to the brain. Having untreated sleep apnea is thought to make individuals more likely to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Experts think hypoxic episodes result in brain tissue losing function and interfere with regular brain activity in the long run.
There are Mood Disorders
As well as impaired thinking, sleep apnea has been found to be connected with depression and anxiety. Having short, sporadic sleep and waking up a lot leads to tiredness and poor sleep which can worsen mood disorders. Lack of sleep and frequent oxygen reduce neurotransmitters in the brain which leads to more problems.
Changes in the body
Linkage between Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
There is a clear relationship between sleep apnea and insulin resistance, an early risk factor for type2 diabetes. During sleep apnea episodes, cortisol, a hormone related to stress, may increase in the body, helping to cause insulin resistance. Besides, not sleeping enough can cause glucose management to go off track, raising the chances of diabetes and metabolic syndrome which include extra fat around the waist, high cholesterol and higher blood sugar and blood pressure.
Becoming Overweight and Obese
Having sleep apnea can contribute to gaining weight and being overweight can bring on sleep apnea. Having obesity can increase a person’s chances of sleep apnea and sleep apnea can add to weight problems too. Not sleeping well often leads to weakened energy and more fatigue, so people often exercise less and feel hungrier which promotes weight gain. In people with sleep apnea, hormones that affect when someone feels hungry or full become out of balance which may cause overeating and weight gain.
Problems with How the Immune System Functions
It is also possible that long-term sleep apnea can lower your immune system’s ability to fight infections. Often having apnea episodes can weaken the body’s immunity and make it harder to fight infections. As a result, individuals may get infections more easily, take longer to recover and face more serious health difficulties when illnesses happen.
Conclusion
Not treating sleep apnea can seriously harm the major systems in the body. Untreated sleep apnea may enable hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, disrupt the mind’s ability to function and play a role in mood problems. Furthermore, that the disorder can cause diabetes, extra weight gain and a weakened immune system makes it important to get treatment.
If there is a possibility you have sleep apnea, talk to a medical expert immediately. Sleep studies are generally used to check if and how serious the disorder is. Some commonly used treatments are adjusting how you live, CPAP therapy, mouth protection devices and on occasion, surgery. Receiving treatment for sleep apnea can strengthen your health and vitality and greatly decrease your risk of serious medical issues. If you take steps to control sleep apnea, it can greatly improve your general well-being.
Start your path to better sleep and better health
Visit apacdsm.com to find valuable information, expert resources, and qualified dental sleep medicine professionals who can support your treatment journey. A healthier, more restful life could be one decision away—don’t put it off.