If you suffer from sleep apnea, you may think the worst thing about this disorder is that you always feel tired. But the truth is, sleep apnea has many dangerous side effects that can not only diminish your quality of life, but it can also shorten your lifespan! Here’s how failure to treat sleep apnea can cost you not just your peace of mind, but your life!
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where a person’s breathing gets interrupted numerous times throughout the night, reducing their quality of sleep. It happens when the airway muscles relax, blocking it and making it difficult to take in air. This in turn causes your reflexes to make you snore or gasp before your regular breathing returns.
Dangerous Side Effects of Sleep Apnea
There are many dangerous short-term and long-term side effects of sleep apnea, including:
Short Term Side Effects
- Snoring, gasping, or choking
- Excessive tiredness during the day
- Lack of energy
- Mood swings / irritability
- Frequent trips to the bathroom at night
- Forgetfulness
- Waking up with a dry mouth or throat
Long Term Side Effects
- Heart disease / high blood pressure
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Brain damage
- Cancer
- Death
The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Though studies have shown that sleep apnea itself does not shorten your life expectancy, it does increase your odds of developing a life-threatening condition like those in the long-term side effects category.
How to Treat Sleep Apnea
If you are interested in treating sleep apnea but are looking for a more comfortable, convenient way to do so without relying solely on traditional methods like CPAP, speak to your dentist today about trying oral sleep appliance therapy. These custom-made devices can help you get the rest you need without complicated machinery and the use of forced air. To see if you qualify for treatment, schedule a consultation with your dentist today.
About Our Practice
At Beck Dental Care of Columbia, we’ve got over 40 years of experience making patients smile. If you are suffering from the debilitating effects of sleep apnea, there’s no need to put your health at greater risk. Speak to your dentist today about whether oral sleep appliance therapy could be right for you. To schedule a consultation, please visit our website or call us at 931-388-8452.