Impact of Sleep Apnea

Impact of Sleep Apnea

How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Quality of Life

It’s hard to function when you’re not getting a restful night of sleep on a daily basis. Sleeping well at night can improve your memory, make your more creative, enhance your ability to concentrate, and even increase your life expectancy. It makes sense, then, that patients who face routine disruptions in sleep will have trouble in these key areas. Sleepy feelings during the day can make remembering and concentrating more difficult. Over time, your condition may even shave off a few years from your life expectancy.

How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Overall Health

Sleep apnea’s impact on your life expectancy may have something to do with the impact it can have on your overall health. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of health problems ranging from high blood pressure and heart disease to stroke, diabetes, and depression. It can even lead to a higher risk of car accidents or accidents at home. Sleep apnea also has a special connection with obesity. Many instances of OSA are worsened by the presence of extra tissue around the mouth. It’s not uncommon for weight loss to have a positive influence on apnea caused by obstruction.

Who Develops Sleep Apnea

The number of those who struggle with sleep apnea falls between 12 million and 40 million. Men and women are both vulnerable to apnea and its effects, but men are two to three times more likely to develop it than women. However, women face a higher risk of developing sleep apnea once they’re reached menopause. Beyond these factors, many of those who struggle with OSA are overweight, though weight alone isn’t a predictor of who will actually develop it.

Other factors that can influence the development of sleep apnea include:

  • Nasal congestion
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
  • Aging
  • Down’s syndrome

For patients who struggle with mixed sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea, the most common factors involved are those that can affect the brainstem. These problems include:

  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Advanced arthritis
  • Encephalitis

Want to Learn More?

Would you like to learn more about the various problems associated with sleep apnea, or are you concerned that you might be struggling with it? Dr. Barotz would be happy to have a discussion with you. During your visit, you can discuss your medical history and your symptoms, and our team can answer any questions you might have about the diagnosis or treatment of your condition. Give our office a call today to reserve your appointment.

Sleep Center