Complications of Sleep Apnea

What are the Complications of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea, though apparently overlooked or ignored as a hazard of modern life, can be a serious health problem if ignored for too long. The common risks involved with prolonged sleep apnea are acute drowsiness and lethargy during daytime, increased blood pressure with risks of cardiac problems, Type 2 diabetes developed due to insulin resistance, disruptive metabolism, problems with medications or surgery, and soured relationships.

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition, and should be treated with professional guidance as soon as possible. Sleeping disorders hinder people from normal functioning during the daytime, and can lead to such fatal consequences like traffic accidents or heart attacks.

Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA increases the risk of recurrent heart attack and strokes. The sleep-deprived members of the society will generally find it very difficult to maintain family or social relationships due to excessive fatigue and constant irritability. Moreover, people suffering from sleep apnea tend to snore loudly at night, often keeping their partners or other family members awake!

According to NHS, OSA leads to increased risks of high blood pressure, road accidents, and Type 2 diabetes.

NHS research proves that people suffering from OSA are 12 times more at risk of being involved in a road or car accident. When people suffer from sleep apnea, the most perceptible that indicate such a condition may be:

• Dry mouth or sore throat after waking up
• Severe headaches in the mornings
• Inability to concentrate with frequent memory lapses
• Learning disabilities or moodiness in children
• Breathing through the mouth
• Emotional disturbances associated with irritability or mood swings.
• Need to urinate frequently during sleeping time

When left untreated, sleep apnea becomes a chronic health problem thus opening up the possibility for many serious diseases.