Sleep apnea is often brushed off as just loud snoring or restless nights, but the truth is, this condition is so much more—and quite harmful if left untreated! In fact, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common form of the condition, does far more than disrupt sleep; it can even put your overall health at risk and potentially shorten your life expectancy. Here’s an overview of sleep apnea and how treatment is the key to ensuring it doesn’t take years off your life.
The Hidden Dangers of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start throughout the night. These episodes of oxygen deprivation can occur dozens or even hundreds of times in a given night as you sleep, and over time, this constant strain on your body can cause all kinds of serious health complications. These include things like:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Heart disease
- Increased risk of stroke
- Diabetes
- Chronic fatigue and daytime drowsiness
- Mood disorders and memory issues
Needless to say, all of these conditions can be quite problematic for your overall health. Studies have shown that people with untreated moderate to severe sleep apnea are at a higher risk of premature death, especially from cardiovascular diseases. Of course, none of this discredits the daily impact the condition also has; constantly feeling tired makes functioning properly pretty much impossible.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Can Work Wonders
While the risks of sleep apnea are serious, the good news is that the condition is very much manageable with proper treatment. Once you’ve received a proper diagnosis, there are several effective treatment options, with oral appliance therapy being one of the go-to methods. This involves wearing a custom-made mouth guard to bed, which serves to hold their airway open at night and ensure proper oxygen flow. These devices can be immediately impactful in helping patients achieve restful, consistent sleep each night.
Another popular treatment option, a CPAP machine, uses a soft nasal mask and a special machine that feeds oxygen through a hose to ensure adequate airflow. It’s also worth noting that certain lifestyle changes, including weight management and changing your sleeping position or establishing a better routine, can also prove useful in curbing sleep apnea symptoms.
If you or a loved one snores loudly, struggles to remain asleep, or wakes up gasping for air, among other related symptoms, it’s time to take sleep apnea seriously. The lifelong and potentially fatal complications it can lead to can be mitigated with the right treatment approach!
About the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Lori Hare, Dr. Billie Reeder, and Dr. Robin Ross, our team here at Healthy Sleep Tulsa has assisted patients in Tulsa, Claremore, and the surrounding area for several years, offering a wide range of treatments aimed at comfortably and effectively addressing sleep apnea, including custom-made oral appliances and more. If you have any questions about the blog, or you’d like to schedule an appointment for yourself or a loved one, you can reach out online or call today for more information. Telephone: (918) 300-4325.