What Health Conditions Are Linked to Sleep Apnea?

It may come as a shock to people, but poor quality sleep is linked to numerous significant health conditions, mental and physical. Sleep apnea is a medical disorder linked to several debilitating and potentially life-threatening health conditions. Not only does sleep apnea wreck your night, it can also wreak havoc on your overall health and happiness.

What health conditions are linked to sleep apnea? Get ready, the list is more extensive than you may realize.

Why Sleep Apnea Affects Overall Health

You need to understand sleep apnea to understand how it affects a person’s overall health and the health conditions associated with sleep apnea. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the throat, tongue, or soft palate block the upper airway. During a sleep apnea episode, a person starts and stops breathing, often repeatedly throughout the night. When breathing is continually stopped and restarted, it can deprive the brain and other vital organs of oxygen.

Some common signs of sleep apnea include snoring, morning headache or sore throat, and daytime fatigue. However, untreated sleep apnea causes more than acute symptoms and restlessness. It can also lead to chronic health conditions. Regular drops in blood oxygen levels affect the body because vital systems lack the oxygen and nutrients they need to function. These drops in blood oxygen also cause enormous stress on the body and can trigger inflammation while increasing blood pressure and heart rate.

Sleep apnea affects overall health because lack of oxygen, increased stress, and inflammation affect nearly every system in the human body. Sleep apnea triggers a cascade of ill health effects from the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to the reproductive organs. These effects may be acute but develop into severe chronic medical conditions and diseases over time.

Common Health Conditions Linked to Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a commonly misunderstood condition. Most people think it causes snoring and makes them grumpy in the morning. Unfortunately, many people do not understand the significant conditions and medical complications that can come from untreated sleep apnea. It is a sleep disorder that can affect your entire body. Some of the most common health conditions linked to sleep apnea include:

Cardiovascular Issues

Sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), heart failure, and stroke. The repeated oxygen drops and surges in blood pressure during apnea episodes strain the heart and cardiovascular system constantly. Studies suggest obstructive sleep apnea may increase the risk of heart failure by 140 percent and the risk of stroke by 60 percent.

Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Conditions

Studies indicate that sleep apnea can affect insulin resistance, making it harder for the body to regulate blood sugar. Many people with sleep apnea either have or are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The condition may also contribute to other conditions, such as metabolic syndrome and hormonal imbalances.

Obesity

Researchers have identified a complex relationship between obesity and sleep apnea. Obesity is both a cause and a complication of sleep apnea. Studies show that obesity plays a role in the development of sleep apnea and that sleep apnea may make it more challenging to lose weight, allowing the conditions to “feed” off each other.

Digestive Issues and Liver Disease

Individuals with sleep apnea are more likely to have abnormal liver function and develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This condition can progress to liver inflammation, scarring, and cirrhosis if untreated. Other digestive system issues can include GERD (acid reflux). Some research shows that as many as 40 to 60 percent of people with OSA also suffer GERD.

Cognitive Decline

Cognitive decline is another health condition linked to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can contribute to memory issues, brain changes, and the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Reproductive Problems

Sleep apnea has also been shown to affect reproductive health in men and women. Studies suggest the condition may be associated with female infertility. It may also reduce sperm quality, create hormonal imbalances, and lead to a higher prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men.

Other conditions linked to sleep apnea include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Kidney disease
• COPD

Proper diagnosis and treatment can significantly reduce these risks and improve overall health and well-being.

Sleep Solutions Are a Phone Call Away

The sleep specialists at Silent Night Therapy don’t just want you to have a good night’s sleep. We want to set you up for a lifetime of good sleep and good health. We work with you to diagnose and treat your sleep disorder so you can wake refreshed, healthy, and ready to tackle the day.

Contact us online or call our office at (631) 983-2463 to set up a complimentary sleep consultation.

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The Link Between Obesity and Sleep Apnea: What You Should Know