Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous sleep problem involving repeated breathing disruption as you sleep. For that reason, your blood is at risk of receiving insufficient oxygen levels. That forces the body’s mechanism to protect your life by making you wake up for a few seconds during the night so that you can breathe in more air. Often, you will not remember what happened during the previous night unless you share a bed with your partner, who notices and informs you about the problem. You should consult a Houston snoring & sleep apnea specialist if you have signs and symptoms indicating you may suffer from that particular sleep problem.
Since you have a night of restless sleep, it is common for you to feel exhausted and unable to stay awake during the day. That will affect your ability to perform regular activities, like driving or working.
Moreover, you may be snoring louder than usual.
Subsequently, below are the health issues a specialist in snoring and sleep apnea treatment can help prevent.
1. High blood pressure
If you do not sleep for the recommended duration, your body will become stressed. A stressed body can lead to your hormone systems going into overdrive. As a consequence, there is a boost in blood pressure levels.
Also, since your blood receives inadequate oxygen because of the interruption in normal breathing, it can contribute to high blood pressure.
If you already suffer from hypertension, sleep apnea will worsen it.
2. Heart attacks
Since there is starting and stopping of airflow, your body automatically produces and releases more stress hormones.
Because of the increased stress levels, you become susceptible to abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, or the weakening of blood vessels.
That can trigger heart disease, heart failure, or stroke. For instance, stroke occurs when a brain’s blood vessel is blocked or delivers low oxygen levels.
3. Depression
According to a Stanford University School of Medicine study, you are five times more at risk of a breathing-related sleep problem than a person not depressed.
Since sleep apnea interferes with sleep, it can increase your risk of depression and anxiety. That is because you can experience a negative change in neurochemicals and brain activity, worsening your mood.
4. Overweight
A potential cause of sleep apnea is excess weight. During sleep, the muscles of the tongue and throat become relaxed. And if you are overweight or obese, the excess fat around the tongue and throat muscles can strain and cause airway blockage.
Clinical studies have also established that having sleep apnea can make you overweight or obese. That is possible because sleep deprivation reduces energy levels during daytime and physical activity.
Moreover, sleep apnea can disrupt your normal metabolism. It can also affect the balance of hormones regulating your appetite, and thus you are highly likely to eat more.
Sleep apnea can also trigger the beginning of type 2 diabetes. This condition involves the body producing inadequate insulin or using insulin properly.
Contact The Dentists at North Cypress today to schedule a consultation with a sleep apnea specialist and learn more about its diagnosis, prevention, and treatment options.
