Sleep apnea is basically a medical condition wherein your breathing is interrupted while you sleep. Left untreated, it could be potentially life-threatening. Here’s how it affects your body:
Compromises your focus
Lack of sleep can affect the quality of your attention and focus. When you suffer from this condition, you’ll often wake up tired and exhausted even after you’ve gone to bed early. This can mean poorer focus and a general inability to work at peak efficiency. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to your health and well-being. If you haven’t been getting enough sleep and rest, that could also have long-term effects on your health.
Increases risk of diseases
When you stop breathing, your body goes into emergency mode, says Prevention.com. That means your blood pressure rises as adrenal glands secrete adrenaline. Your heart rate spikes along as well. If you suffer from this sleep disorder regularly, that’s going to increase your chances of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease as well as heart attacks and strokes.
Compromises performance
If your performance at school or work is starting to suffer because of lack of sleep, this could be caused by Sleep apnea. Since lack of rest and sleep affect your concentration, this can lead to poorer decision-making skills and lower productivity levels at work.
Getting help
While not all cases of this sleep disorder is a cause for serious concern, consulting with a dentist is a good idea. You’ll want to find out what treatment options you can go for to resolve the problem. By getting early treatment, you can minimize or reverse the negative effects of the condition on your health. With an experienced, competent and trustworthy dental care provider, you won’t have to worry about dealing with the effects of this sleep disorder on your own. Early treatment means a faster recovery.
