Can Sleep Apnea Cause Other Serious Health Problems?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a frequently diagnosed sleep disease that causes breathing pauses while sleeping. Sleep apnea, if left untreated, can have a negative influence on your health and well-being. 

Sleep apnea develops when your muscles relax during sleep. The soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and obstructs the airway. Pauses in breathing might range anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute or more. 

When the body briefly awakens up to gasp for air, the pauses come to an end. This sequence of breathing pauses continues for the entire night. During that time, a person with severe sleep apnea may experience hundreds of breathing pauses. 

These breathing pauses result in significant changes in blood pressure and oxygen levels, as well as sleep fragmentation. Untreated moderate sleep apnea puts a significant amount of stress on the body over time; this puts you at risk for various additional health issues.

Types of Sleep Apnea 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea 

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most frequent type of sleep apnea. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, OSA occurs when the throat muscles in the back of your throat collapse too much to allow proper breathing while asleep. 

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not deliver the necessary information to the muscles that govern breathing; this differs from obstructive sleep apnea, which is caused by a mechanical condition that restricts the airway.

Complex Sleep Apnea 

Breathing issues persist even after the airway blockage is addressed and treated in complicated sleep apnea syndrome, indicating that something other than collapsing throat muscles contributes to the apnea.

Health Problems Sleep Apnea Can Cause 

If you believe you have any of the above, it’s best to visit a sleep apnea doctor at a sleep apnea-specific clinic. Headaches upon waking are one of the biggest signs of a sleep disorder. Here are some of the other signs and symptoms of sleep apnea:

● Loud snoring

● Difficulty paying attention while awake

● Gasping for air during sleep

● High blood pressure 

● Waking with dry mouth

● Heart trouble

● Excessive daytime sleepiness

● Constant headaches

● Irritability

● Difficulty staying asleep