Sleep Apnea Health Risks
Ideally, you will sleep at least seven hours a night. If you don’t sleep at night, it is important to do so at roughly the same time each day for best results. However, sleep apnea can make it difficult to get quality rest each day. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where your breathing stops and starts again several times throughout the night, causing you to have a restless night’s sleep. Here are a few of the negative consequences that sleep apnea can have on your everyday life.
While you may not realize it, having sleep apnea means that you’ll wake up several times a night. This is because your throat will close for several seconds at a time, and your body needs some way to ensure that you don’t suffocate. These interruptions will result in a lower quality of sleep, which can result in significant drowsiness. While in a drowsy state, it may be difficult to drive or perform other tasks safely. If you have not been diagnosed with sleep apnea but notice that you feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, speak with your doctor about a potential diagnosis.
After a good night’s sleep, you’ll generally notice that you are in a relatively good mood. When you don’t get quality rest for several days or weeks in a row, there is an increased chance of feeling depressed or hopeless. You may also find that you have a short fuse with your friends, colleagues or clients. This could put a strain on personal relationships or make it difficult to keep a job.
The stress caused by a lack of rest could result in physical health issues. For instance, you may grind your teeth when you are able to fall asleep. This could result in a misaligned jaw or other dental problems that could be costly to address. Stress could also lead to cravings for unhealthy foods, which could cause you to gain weight or develop diabetes. In addition, people with sleep apnea are at high risk of heart disease and death related to their sleep apnea diagnosis.
Mood changes related to your sleep apnea may result in a decreased interest in having sex. It could also cause you to be more distant from your spouse or partner in general. A lack of sex is often cited as a reason why married couples or those who are in long-term relationships choose to end their relationships. In addition to how sleep apnea affects your physical health, this condition can begin to affect your personal relationships as well.
If you are waking up tired in the morning despite sleeping for several hours, it may be a good idea to see a doctor. Other signs of sleep apnea include a sore throat, dry throat or loud snoring. Nightmares or other unusual dreams may be another clue that you could have a serious sleep disorder.
By Anica Oaks
who is a freelance writer and hails from San Francisco. When she’s not writing, she’s enjoying her time outside with her dogs. Anica recommends speaking with your dentist if you notice you have a misaligned jaw from sleep apnea.
Member since August, 2019
View all the articles of Anica Oaks.