Snoring can make for a bad night’s
sleep, for you and your bed mate. But if it happens because you have
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it is a sign of a bigger problem.
The condition raises your risk for
other health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes. It can
even make you more dangerous on the road. But when you treat sleep
apnea, you can ease or even cure some of these issues.
Here are seven health problems you
might face if you have OSA:
#1. High blood pressure.
#2. Heart disease.
#3. Type 2 diabetes.
#4. Weight gain.
#5. Adult asthma.
#6. Acid reflux.
#7. Car accidents.
High blood pressure. If you
already have it, sleep apnea can make it worse. When you wake up
often during the night, your body is stressed. That makes your
hormone systems go into overdrive, which boosts your blood pressure
levels. Also, the level of oxygen in your blood drops when you can’t
breathe well, which may add to the problem. Treatment can make a
difference, though. Some people with high BP who get help for sleep
apnea will see their blood pressure improve. Their doctors may be
able to cut back on their BP medications. But you shouldn’t stop
or change your dose without talking to your doctor first.
Heart disease. People with OSA
are more likely to have heart attacks. The causes may be low oxygen
or the stress of waking up often. Strokes and atrial fibrillation --
a fast, fluttering heartbeat -- are also linked with the condition.
Sleep apnea disrupts how your body takes in oxygen, which makes it
hard for your brain to control how blood flows in your arteries and
the brain itself.
Type 2 diabetes. Sleep apnea is
common among people with this condition -- 80% or more of them may
have OSA. Obesity raises a person’s risk for both disorders.
Although studies haven’t shown a cause-and-effect link between
sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, not getting enough shut-eye can keep
your body from using insulin properly, which leads to diabetes.
Weight gain. Extra pounds raise
your chances of getting sleep apnea, and the condition also makes it
harder to slim down. When you’re overweight, you can have fatty
deposits in your neck that block breathing at night. On the flip
side, sleep apnea can make your body release more of the hormone
ghrelin, which makes you crave carbs and sweets. And when you're
tired all the time, you might not be able to turn the food you eat
into energy as efficiently, which can lead to weight gain. The good
news? Treatment for OSA can make you feel better, with more energy
for exercise and other activities. This can help you lose weight,
which can help your sleep apnea.
Adult asthma. Science hasn’t
proven a link to OSA, but people who get sleep apnea treatment may
find they have fewer asthma attacks.
Acid reflux. There’s no proof
that sleep apnea causes this kind of heartburn, but many people say
it’s a problem. Treating it seems to improve apnea symptoms for
some people, sleep doctors say.
Car accidents. When you feel
groggy, you raise your risk of falling asleep at the wheel. People
with sleep apnea are up to five times more likely than normal
sleepers to have traffic accidents.
All the health problems linked to the
condition can sound scary, but there are lots of ways to treat it.
Your doctor may recommend a machine called CPAP, short for continuous
positive airway pressure. The machine, with a mask attached by a
hose, can help you breathe better at night and get the rest you need.
It can take some getting used to, but people who use it when they
sleep feel better and are healthier.
I can vouch for the above as I have
sleep apnea and have been using various
models of the CPAP machine since 2001.
From the list near the top, I have never had problems with number 5
and 7.
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