How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Body

anatomy dummy

How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Body

Undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea can not only disrupt your sleep, but also cause many of these potentially hazardous medical issues.

Various health conditions linked to sleep apnea

Obesity and high blood pressure are only two of the medical conditions linked to sleep apnea. Other conditions include:

  • Blood Sugar Disorders
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Cardiovascular Disease

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.

sleep apnea

The body’s response to lack of oxygen and lack of rest

Digestive System

Apnea can cause heartburn and reflux issues, further affecting your sleep schedule. It can also make you more likely to develop unhealthy levels of liver enzymes.

Nervous System

A type of sleep apnea called central sleep apnea happens when your brain’s signals for you to breathe are disrupted. It can also cause tingling and numbness in some individuals.

Endocrine System

Insulin resistance is more likely to develop in those who have sleep apnea. This can end up causing type II diabetes or a combination of pre-diabetic symptoms. Metabolic syndrome has also been linked to sleep apnea.

Circulatory/Cardiovascular Systems

According to The National Commission on Sleep Disorders, sleep apnea is probably responsible for 38,000 cardiovascular deaths yearly.

Apneic episodes can cause strain on your heart, cardiac disease, even heart failure. If you suffer from sleep apnea, you care more likely to have abnormal heart rhythm.

A message from Dr. Amy Hartsfield:

At TMJ & Sleep Solutions of Alabama, our mission is to provide personalized care to restore quality of life, one patient at a time. If you are experiencing issues with sleep, don’t hesitate to contact us and schedule an appointment!