When you think of sleep apnea, you likely think of snoring and poor sleep. But sleep apnea doesn’t just affect how you rest; it can impact other areas of your health, as well. At Northview Family Dental, we want you to understand some of these risks, especially for patients in Spokane, WA, so that you can be motivated to seek treatment and help improve your quality of life.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which you stop and start breathing while you sleep. This can cause chronic fatigue, which can affect you both at night and throughout the day. It might affect your cognitive performance in other ways as well. It can also affect your blood sugar, blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular health.
Many people don’t realize they have sleep apnea for years or may assume that the only impact is their snoring or feeling of tiredness. The more you leave this condition untreated, the higher your risk of other issues. Here are a few of the most common issues associated with sleep apnea.
Constant Tiredness & Lower Performance
One of the most common side effects of sleep apnea is feeling tired even after you’ve slept for a reasonable amount of time. Even if you sleep long enough, because you’re not sleeping deeply due to all the times your breathing is interrupted, you may wake feeling tired or have trouble staying awake during the day. Some of the most common effects of being tired while you’re supposed to be awake include:
- Difficulty focusing
- Reduced performance in school or at work
- Problems with memory or focus
- Irritability
- Low energy
Sleep apnea can impact your ability to work and get things done or your interactions with family and friends.
Higher Risk Of Heart Disease
In people with sleep apnea, their blood oxygen levels drop each time they stop breathing during the night, which places extra stress on their cardiovascular system. Studies have found that sleep apnea may be a contributing factor to:
- High blood pressure
- Strain on the heart
- Heart disease
- Stroke
If you have sleep apnea, treating it can be an important piece of protecting your cardiovascular health.
Blood Sugar & Metabolic Issues
Sleep apnea also has the potential to affect your blood sugar and the health of your metabolism. When your blood oxygen levels drop because you’re not breathing, you may experience:
- Poor insulin sensitivity
- Trouble regulating blood sugar
- Struggles with your weight
- General metabolic health issues
This can be related to the poor-quality sleep you’re getting and also related to the other stress that the condition places on your body. Improving the quality of your sleep can support your other health goals and overall wellness.
Poor Cognition & Mental Health
A good night’s sleep is essential to keep your brain functioning normally. With the sleep apnea that leads to your brain not getting a solid night’s sleep, you might find your mental functioning declining over time. Patients who have untreated sleep apnea can expect to notice the following cognitive signs:
- An inability to focus.
- Trouble remembering.
- Brain fog or confusion.
- A delayed reaction time.
There are other risks to sleep apnea that can have an even greater impact. A lack of consistent quality sleep can also cause or exacerbate mental health problems. Sleep apnea may increase your likelihood of experiencing mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and depression.
Getting a sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment may help you regain your sense of focus and emotional balance.
Accidents & Other Safety Concerns
A patient who has untreated sleep apnea and experiences excessive daytime sleepiness may be at risk of several types of accidents:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Domestic accidents
- Accidents caused by inattention
These individuals may be unaware of how sleep apnea can impact their daily lives. Their energy will be low because of sleep deprivation, putting them in danger of harming themselves or another person.
Relationships & The Quality Of Life
Sleep apnea doesn’t only negatively impact the sleep of the patient who experiences the sleep-disordered breathing. It may also affect the sleep of a partner, spouse, or family member.
A patient’s sleep apnea may lead to these problems:
- Frustration from feeling tired all the time
- Difficulty engaging in social events
- Reduced ability to enjoy life
- Strains in personal relationships
When a patient finally starts to sleep better through treatment, they often start to feel better in every area of their lives.
The Importance Of Early Treatment
The longer a sleep disorder goes unaddressed, the more serious the risks are. By recognizing symptoms of the sleep disorder early on, the condition may never escalate.
If you notice that you are:
- Snoring often or loudly
- Sleeping during the day
- Waking up at night frequently
- Waking up with a morning headache
- Breathing pauses are observed by someone else
Consider a sleep apnea evaluation. If your symptoms suggest sleep-disordered breathing, your provider will be able to guide you to the right treatment. The sooner treatment begins, the better your outlook.
Why Choose Northview Family Dental For Your Sleep Apnea Needs
When you decide to address symptoms and get a comprehensive diagnosis, you are taking the first step to protecting your health. Here at Northview Family Dental, we will help you assess whether airway function or sleep-disordered breathing is affecting your daily life.
If you live in or near Spokane, WA, and are interested in airway-focused care, we can help you. We offer a number of tools to identify the presence of sleep apnea, including comprehensive evaluations, diagnostic technology, and oral appliance treatments. Together, we can create a treatment plan that is right for you. Our priority is your health and happiness in the years ahead. We can help you feel your best.