Sleep apnea can do much more to your quality of life than just disrupting your ability to rest well. Not only can it have a significant negative impact on your bodily health, but it can also affect your life expectancy. Fortunately, by receiving effective treatment to achieve better rest, you’ll be able to minimize the risks to your overall well-being and lifespan. Keep reading to learn the troubles of unresolved sleep apnea and how treating it can help you live longer.
What Happens With Untreated Sleep Apnea?
Here are some of the risks that can occur if you don’t address this condition:
- Poor Mental Health: Without plenty of quality rest, those who struggle with sleep apnea are found to have a higher risk of anxiety, mood disorders, and depression.
- Daytime Fatigue: Constantly having your sleep schedule interrupted can end up causing you to feel drowsy and incredibly tired throughout the day, making you unable to remain sufficiently concentrated or productive. Not only can this impact your quality of life, but it can also increase your risk of accidents while driving.
- Heart Health Issues: Sleep apnea is closely associated with an increased chance of hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease, and stroke. Your oxygen levels can also diminish from interrupted sleep, which can negatively affect your cardiovascular health.
- Reduced Lifespan: Untreated sleep apnea has been found to cause people to have significantly shorter life expectancy because of the problematic blood circulation to the heart.
The Benefits of Addressing Sleep Apnea
Although this condition can have drastic effects on your overall health, it is also a very treatable problem. By getting treatment and improving your quality of sleep, you’ll be able to raise your chances of enjoying a much healthier and longer life. Here are several ways to remedy this issue:
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy: This treatment includes wearing a mask over your mouth and nose during rest, which will be connected to a device that provides continuous flow that keeps your airway open while preventing any blockage or interruptions.
- Oral Appliance Therapy: Instead of wearing a mask, you can wear a personalized oral appliance that resembles a mouthguard and is designed to shift your jaw and tongue so that you can breathe more easily during sleep. Unlike CPAP machines, these appliances are portable and convenient.
- Change in Lifestyle: Other than addressing the airway or jaw/tongue positions, you can also alleviate sleep apnea symptoms by making changes in various lifestyle habits, such as your sleeping position, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding alcohol.
You don’t have to let sleep apnea minimize your opportunities and overall well-being. Speak with your doctor about treatments for this condition, and they’ll be glad to help you improve your quality of life.
About the Author
Dr. Jennifer Sherwood Bragg strives to provide patients with the effective treatment necessary to alleviate their sleep apnea symptoms. She has years of extensive training in this area and is even a member of several professional organizations, such as the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Sleep and Breathing Academy. If you’d like to know more about sleep apnea treatment or wish to schedule a consultation, visit our website or reach out to us at 470-281-9905.