Sleep apnea goes beyond just a problem with getting a good night’s sleep. It can also cause breathing issues that can cause a great deal of strain on your body, resulting in potentially life-threatening issues for those who are untreated. A lack of oxygen, a rise in blood pressure, lack of sleep and increased stress on the heart may be detrimental to the health of people suffering from apnea and increase the chance of developing other illnesses and a decrease in life longevity.
Health Complications From Sleep Apnea
Patients should be aware the risks associated with the diagnosis of apnea and be advised to look into preventive practices and treatment options that can enhance the overall outlook on their health. Although many instances are a result of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are manageable efficiently with the help of medical treatment and lifestyle adjustments, untreated symptoms (or ones that do not seek any diagnosis at all) can increase the likelihood of a variety of health issues such as cardiovascular disease and injuries or accidents resulting from sleep absence.
Sleep Apnea’s Problems With The Heart
When the oxygen level in blood begins to decline as it does, the odds of suffering an episode of hypoxia or hypoxemia start to increase. Hypoxemia is caused by a drop in the oxygen level in blood. It can range from mild to severe symptoms. The condition is a bit more challenging. The condition can be life-threatening and causes the inability of oxygen to be delivered to vital tissues and demands immediate medical care. Sleep apnea that is obstructive (OSA) can increase the chance of suffering strokes and heart attacks typically as a result of repeated hypoxia or hypoxemia events.
Dangers Of Apnea And Type 2 Diabetes
Sleep apnea may create diabetes much more challenging to manage because the carbon dioxide level in your blood rises with each breathe that is interrupted. Apnea frequent episodes can result in increased carbon dioxide in your blood, which may trigger insulin resistance as well as high blood pressure and headaches in the early morning.
Impact to the Liver
The presence of elevated liver enzymes is common when dealing with Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients and can also be a sign as Fatty Liver. Tests for liver function that are irregular and evidence of scarring are usually signs of the effects of apnea’s influence on the liver. However, they could, in some cases be managed if sleeping disorders are properly treated.
Metabolic Syndrome
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and metabolic syndrome, also known as insulin resistance syndrome which is most commonly seen in overweight patients and increase the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes as well as a stroke. It is important to remember that an individual can be diagnosed only if they have at least three of the following health issues:
- Blood sugar levels are high.
- Insufficient levels “good” HDL cholesterol
- The triglycerides in the blood are extremely high the blood fat
- There’s too much belly fat
- High blood pressure
Mental Health Concerns
Sleep issues can have a devastating effect on the mental health of a patient as they battle with mental fog, daytime fatigue as well as memory loss and low moods. Along with an increased risk of causing accidents as well as neurological conditions such as depression or mild cognitive impairment could put patients suffering from apnea in risky situations. Things like keeping the stove on in a state of cognitive fog or having trouble to concentrate in the car are a common occurrence for sufferers with this condition.
