Sleep apnea is more widely known now than it has ever been. However, many people fail to understand why it is such a serious concern. Sleep apnea is more than just a sleep-disrupting condition. In fact, it is a respiratory and cardiovascular problem as well. Those affected by sleep apnea not only struggle with disrupted sleep and overwhelming fatigue, but there are long-term side effects that can be a concern if you don't seek treatment.
General Fatigue And Inattention
Sleep apnea disrupts your body's respiration when you're sleeping. When you struggle to breathe properly in your sleep, your body stirs when your breathing stops. This prevents you from getting adequate rest, which means that you end up chronically fatigued. That fatigue can make it harder to focus on your everyday responsibilities, and it may lead to memory problems as well.
Increased Risk Of Accidents And Injuries
You may not associate sleep apnea with a risk of accidents or injuries, but there is a direct correlation. When you fail to treat your sleep apnea properly, the fatigue that results can cause inattention and safety hazards behind the wheel and in your day-to-day actions. If you find yourself being clumsier than usual, more prone to injuries, or drowsy in the car, it's important that you seek attention for your sleep apnea.
More Likely To Develop Insulin Resistance Or Type 2 Diabetes
Excess weight is often a contributing factor to sleep apnea issues. Unfortunately, the fatigue and physical effects of untreated sleep apnea often lead you to depend upon quick and easy meals and foods that can increase your weight further. This leads to an increased risk of weight-related conditions, including diabetes and insulin resistance issues.
Cardiovascular Problems
The sleep disruptions and respiratory issues associated with sleep apnea can damage your heart. You're more prone to irregular heartbeats, heart muscle damage, and stroke when you fail to treat your sleep apnea. In severe cases, you may even suffer a heart attack. The longer you go without treating your condition, the more damage is likely to be done, so it's important to seek treatment as soon as possible.
These are just a few of the many reasons why you should think about talking with a doctor about treating your sleep apnea condition. When you seek treatment, it gives your body a chance to repair the damage that it has suffered. This helps you prevent long-term serious complications.
Learn more about sleep apnea treatment.
Share12 January 2023
Hi, my name is Kevin Nelson and I want to tell you about my experience. I had a painful tooth so I went to see my dentist. After the examination, he said that I needed to have a root canal to save the tooth. I told the dentist to just pull the tooth instead and then he explained why that wasn't a good idea. He said that pulling the tooth would cause additional problems and then he told me what could happen. I didn't want any more problems, so the dentist did the root canal and I'm glad that he did. I wanted to write a blog to tell others about the benefits of a root canal and what to expect during the procedure. I hope that by getting the word out, other people won't make the same mistake that I almost did by getting a perfectly good tooth pulled.