What Are The Dangers And Risks Of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder where a person can stop breathing for a limited amount of time, usually for some seconds before it is resumed again. This is caused by the blockage or collapsing of the airways due to absence of the right pressure. Here are some dangers and risks of sleep apnea which all sleep apnea doctors agree on.

High Blood Pressure

Sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders can lead to high blood pressure. This is due to two main reasons. First of all, generally, in most kinds of sleep disorders, people feel quite tired as they are unable to get optimum rest for their bodies to function properly. Whether it be insomnia, night terrors, sleep apnea or other sleep related issues, your brain and heart don’t feel relaxed and they don’t get the rest they need. In this way, this can lead the heart to overwork a lot, pumping blood through the body with a greater pressure. If this is prolonged for too long, it can lead to long term hypertension.

Another reason which is closely associated with sleep apnea, as to why your blood pressure increases, is due to lack of oxygen in the body. Oxygen is necessary for the blood in order to allow the organs to function properly. If there is lack of oxygen due to cease breathing, then this may cause your blood pressure to spike, taking in all of the available oxygen in your body, which is clearly not enough.

Diabetes

One of the main reasons for diabetes is lack of sleep and absence of a night routine. Sleep apnea, although it is different from insomnia, can still cause you to feel restless and you might also feel more afraid to fall asleep. Lack of sleep can trigger diabetes. This happens because during sleep, your body gets rid of excess insulin in your body, keeping your blood sugar levels in check and balance. Lack of sleep and restlessness can cause a spike in your insulin levels, and if it is left untreated for a long time, this condition can morph into type-2 diabetes.

Heart Issues

Heart issues are very prevalent with sleeping disorders, especially sleep apnea. Again, this has to do with lack of oxygen in your blood. Oxygen is very important to keep your body working properly and allows you to breathe better too. When you stop breathing, there is a sudden drop in oxygen, which can cause the heart to become constricted and cause the blood vessels to contract as well. If this goes on for too much time, it can lead to severe cardiovascular problems, one of which is a fatal heart attack.

Also, lack of oxygen can cause brain dysfunction as well and can lead to strokes and other neurological issues.

Sleep Deprivation Issues

With sleeping disorders, comes a lot of sleep deprivation issues. The mind loses its ability to focus and concentrate for long. You will feel extreme fatigue all the time, since your body is not getting adequate rest and peace. Sleep deprivation can be dangerous in worse cases, because it can lead to unconsciousness during any time of the day and it won’t give you a heads up beforehand. This can be a very harmful situation because you could be doing anything like walking, driving, etc. and you can lose consciousness any time.

Weight Gain

With proper sleep, your body also looks good and in shape. With sleep apnea and restlessness as well as unwillingness to fall asleep can lead to weight gain and obesity. This can lead to a lot more problems like heart issues, kidney failure, strokes and more. If you are anxious about the fact that you will stop breathing if you fall asleep then it will be hard for you to close your eyes and give your body and mind a rest. This can be quite harmful for you and your body alike.

Sleep apnea is not necessarily a fatal disorder but it can be quite uncomfortable to know that you can stop breathing for some time during your sleep and you can’t do anything about it until you know you suffer from it. When you notice the symptoms, go to a sleep center or diagnosis and treatment.

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