Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder and can go undiagnosed for long periods of time. Studies have shown that up to 22 million Americans deal with this condition and 80% of that number do not receive treatment.
In many of these cases, the symptom of sleep apnea is mild and cannot be classified as a sleep disorder. Yet, others do not realize the severe impact that sleep apnea can have on their lives. Fortunately, sleep apnea is very easy to treat. Medical experts use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices and other treatment methods to manage sleep apnea.
The issue lies with making people realize that sleep apnea is an urgent medical condition to treat. In this article, we will address multiple reasons why treating sleep apnea should be made a priority.
Snoring is not the only bad thing about sleep apnea — it also reduces the quality of sleep. During an episode of sleep apnea, the collapsed tissues of the upper respiratory system inhibit the flow of oxygen to the lungs. This triggers the brain to wake up at specific stages of sleep to prompt the body to open up the airways, and this action may happen several times an hour.
This interruption prevents the brain from sleeping profoundly and performing its normal functions. This is why you would wake up feeling exhausted and tired. By treating sleep apnea, you can give your body and mind the rest they deserve to stay alert for the day’s work.
Sleep apnea patients do not suffer the effects of sleep apnea alone — their partner does, too. Usually, the patient’s sleeping partner would lose quality sleep because of the loud, disruptive snoring and the restlessness of the other sleeper. Additionally, patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea would often deal with breath pauses, accompanied by choking or gasping sounds that can be quite terrifying.
Partners of sleep apnea patients would often have to deal with anxiety that their loved one may stop breathing altogether. This is reason enough to get the condition treated.
Studies have shown that some medical conditions can develop due to sleep apnea, including heart-related diseases, diabetes, stroke, and cancer. High blood pressure occurs when the breathing process is obstructed. This causes the brain to increase blood flow through blood vessel constriction.
Poor sleep quality causes lower concentration, attention deficits, and memory issues. Losing sleep affects the way your brain processes information during the day. This could affect your daily life in several ways and can lower your performance at work or in academics.
Sleep deprivation contributes to real life disaster because it impairs your concentration. Losing focus at work or when driving could spell disaster for you and the people around you.
It is evident that neglecting sleep apnea can cause many issues, both for yourself and to others. Reach out to a medical professional to have the condition treated immediately.
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