What are the Dangers of Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a sleeping disorder that occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. This causes your airways to narrow or close, making you unable to breathe. If your body stops bringing in oxygen, your brain will wake you up just enough to get your breathing again. You may not even notice your body waking up.
In fact – most people who have sleep apnea don’t know they have it. This can lead to a variety of health issues and can even cause untimely death.
An Unhappy or Tired Partner
Your partner may not tell you this, but your sleep apnea can harm them too! People with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) often snore – loudly. This can lead to your significant other having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep all because of the noise. Even though you may be the one with OSA, your partner may be feeling the physical consequences of your sleep troubles.
Constant Daytime Sleepiness Leads to Safety Hazards
One of the main symptoms of sleep apnea is persistent daytime sleepiness. We all know how difficult and long a day feels when you sleep poorly the night before, but there are more significant risks at play. Daytime sleepiness can cause accidents with motor vehicles and heavy equipment – especially if you fail to get a good night’s sleep for weeks. In fact, people with sleep apnea are 5 times more likely to have traffic accidents than normal sleepers. Other risks associated with daytime sleepiness include poor job performance and low energy.
A Variety of Cardiovascular Issues
Sleep apnea puts a lot of stress on your body and can cause high blood pressure. When your body wakes you up frequently during the night, your hormone systems have to work overtime, and the oxygen level in your blood drops. High blood pressure can cause heart disease and stroke. Sleep apnea disrupts how you take in oxygen and makes it difficult for your brain to control how blood flows through your body.
These issues can include:
- 50% increased chance of High Blood Pressure
- 50% increase risk for Type II Diabetes
- 7 times more likely to suffer from stroke or heart attack
A Shortened Lifespan
Your brain is smart enough to wake you up before your body runs out of oxygen, so you won’t die by suffocating in your sleep. However, the complications that come with OSA significantly increase your risk of a shortened life span. People with untreated sleep apnea face more than 3 times the risk of premature death. Carrie Fisher’s official cause of death was untreated sleep apnea. Even closer to home, Dr. Denman’s own father passed away unexpectedly from undiagnosed OSA.
If you are at risk for sleep apnea or you think you are exhibiting some symptoms that indicate you have OSA, we urge you to take our sleep apnea screener to learn more. At Sleep Cycle Center, we are committed to eliminating these preventable deaths from a treatable disease.
Contact Us Today to schedule your appointment:
Email: drdenman@sleepcyclecenters.com
Phone: (512) 645-0818
Fax: (512) 645-0646
Click Here to schedule an appointment!
7101 Easy Wind Drive, Suite 3116
Austin, TX 78752
1518 Ranch Rd 620 South
Building H, Suite 100
Lakeway, TX 78734
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