The Risks of Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea

A good diet and regular exercise are important for keeping your heart healthy. Still, the quality of sleep you get is also important in maintaining good cardiovascular health.

Sleep apnea increases the risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and it is often not detected. This is concerning because people may not be aware that they have this fairly common issue.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing is interrupted during rest. It is caused by the relaxation of the upper airway muscles, which narrows the airway and prevents adequate airflow. During an episode, breathing can stop for ten seconds or more before the reflexes activate and the breathing resumes.

It is estimated that approximately three percent of individuals of normal weight have sleep apnea, while it’s more than 20 percent for those who are obese. Men are more commonly affected by this condition than women; however, this changes after menopause. Additionally, sleep apnea can be linked to heart disease and metabolic conditions such as diabetes.

What Are the Signs of Sleep Apnea?

A bed partner may be able to detect that your breathing has paused, or they may be disturbed by your loud snoring. It is important to note that snoring is not necessarily indicative of sleep apnea, as it is caused by airway resistance, and you can experience it without the condition. On the other hand, you can have sleep apnea without snoring.

Sleep apnea can cause people to feel drained during the day and experience extreme mood changes because the breathing pauses during sleep don’t let them achieve a restful state. This can have serious consequences, such as decreased alertness while driving, decreased performance at work, changes in mood, wakefulness during the day, and sleeping during lectures.

People with sleep apnea might wake up with a parched mouth, as the condition often requires you to breathe through your mouth, decreasing saliva. A possible side-effect of this is a headache, which can be caused by a lack of oxygen or an excess of carbon dioxide while sleeping.

Cardiovascular Risk of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can cause a range of physical and mental health problems. It has been found that people with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from health issues such as type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart attack. This is mainly because those with sleep apnea are more likely to be obese, which increases their risk of these conditions.

Sleep apnea has been linked to diabetes, even if the person is not overweight. It has been found that people with sleep apnea are more likely to develop diabetes and that sleep apnea can cause blood sugar levels to rise.

For individuals carrying extra pounds, weight loss is essential to treating or preventing sleep apnea. Those who accumulate fat in their neck, tongue and upper abdomen are at an increased risk of developing sleep apnea. This additional weight reduces the width of the airway, causing the lungs to be compressed and resulting in airway blockage during sleep.

Conclusion

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that carries many risks if undiagnosed and untreated. It can lead to various serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. In addition, it can lead to feeling constantly tired, difficulty concentrating and poor performance at work or school. Diagnosing and treating sleep apnea is essential to reduce the risks of these serious health conditions.

At Lethbridge Snoring and Sleep Apnea Clinic, we’re passionate about helping our patients achieve better sleep health. We provide sleep testing to help understand and assess underlying sleep conditions and provide the right treatment. If you’re looking for a sleep apnea clinic in Lethbridge, we can help! Get in touch with us today!