Snoring the night away because of sleep apnea can make it difficult to get any rest, for both you and your bed partner. However, sleep apnea can also take a toll on your overall health and increase your risk of several serious conditions. Thankfully, treating this disorder can help ease your symptoms and restore your quality of life! Here are seven health issues that can come from leaving sleep apnea in Sacramento untreated.

1.) High Blood Pressure

Waking up all throughout the night because of sleep apnea puts stress on your body, which increases your heart rate. Additionally, the level of oxygen in your blood drops when you can’t breathe well.

2.) Heart Disease

As your oxygen intake is disrupted by sleep apnea, your brain has more difficulty controlling how much blood flows to your arteries. This combined with the extra stress on your heart leads to an increase of heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions.

3.) Type 2 Diabetes

Nearly 80% of those suffering from type 2 diabetes have sleep apnea as well. While there is no definitive cause-and-effect link between these two conditions, not getting enough rest can keep your body from using insulin properly, which leads to diabetes.

4.) Weight Gain

Not only does obesity increase your chances of getting sleep apnea, but this sleeping condition makes it more difficult to lose weight as well. Sleep apnea can cause you to crave carbs and sweets and make it more difficult for your body to turn the food you eat into energy.

5.) Adult Asthma

While more research needs to be conducted to fully understand and prove the connection between sleep apnea and adult asthma, many patients who have their sleep apnea treated find they have fewer asthma attacks.

6.) Acid Reflux

Roughly 60% of people with sleep apnea have chronic acid reflux, which can damage your esophagus and even erode your enamel. Many studies suggest that treating one condition helps ease the other.

7.) Car Accidents

When you’re groggy, the tell-tale symptom of sleep apnea, you’re more likely to fall asleep at the wheel. Focus and alertness are critical when operating a vehicle—for your safety as well as the safety of other cars and pedestrians around you. People with sleep apnea are up to five times more likely than normal sleepers to have traffic accidents.

Thankfully, you can lower your risk of all the health conditions mentioned above by treating your sleep apnea. Talk to your Sacramento dentist today about a custom treatment plan and regain your health!

About the Author

Dr. A Scott Grivas has been caring for the smiles of Sacramento for over a decade. He is committed to providing each patient the personalized, comfortable, and effective dental care they deserve to improve their quality of life. Alongside an array of comprehensive dental services, he also offers custom-made oral appliances to help patients suffering from sleep apnea. If you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to contact him via his website or at (916) 571-0815.