The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition that affects millions of people around the world. The chief visible symptom of sleep apnea is snoring, which can disrupt a partner’s sleep. However, sleep apnea poses a much more serious threat than waking up to a grumpy partner.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea also disrupts the sleep of the person who suffers from this condition. As a result, the body does not get the requisite number of hours of deep slumber. Furthermore, sleep apnea inhibits proper oxygen flow. This is why many with this condition wake abruptly during fits in the night. Their body is alerting them that oxygen deprivation is taking place. Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Not feeling rested upon waking up
- Being jolted awake a number of times in the night
- Waking with an extremely dry mouth
- Loud, disruptive snoring
The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Your dentist in Rancho Mirage treats sleep apnea. The treatment is non-invasive and painful, so there’s no reason why you should not seek treatment for sleep apnea. But there’s another reason to get treatment as soon as possible. Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition.
Sleep apnea has been tied to poor cardiovascular health. Those who suffer from sleep apnea have a higher incidence of stroke and heart attack.
Another danger is diabetes. Many people who have sleep apnea are dangerously obese. Obesity is defined as weighing 30 pounds or more over your healthy weight range. The connection between obesity, sleep apnea, and diabetes has been firmly established. Diabetes can lead to vascular disease or even amputation in extreme cases.
Bear in mind that sleep apnea is often a symptom of something more serious regarding health. The sooner you can get your sleep apnea under control with your dentist, the sooner you can get ack on the path to optimal health.
