This is an understandable question. After all, treating sleep apnea involves getting a sleep study, meeting with a sleep doctor or sleep dentist, and possibly calling your insurance company to see if they’ll cover any of the costs. It’s a commitment, and it makes sense to consider whether treating your sleep apnea will be worth it.
The truth is that chronic lack of quality sleep can negatively impact your life in more ways than one. Here’s what could happen if you don’t treat sleep apnea.
Dangerous Fatigue
The most obvious consequence of sleep apnea is daytime drowsiness. When you don’t get enough rest, it can be hard to stay awake for a full 12 hours. You might struggle to focus or think clearly, which can create challenges in the workplace and even at home.
To make matters worse, repeated sleepless nights can eventually turn tiredness into fatigue. Your body can become physically weak or ill, and you might start to nod off during important tasks – like driving.
Ultimately, lack of sleep can be more than an annoyance. It can be downright dangerous!
Health Complications
You also need quality sleep on a biological level. When you don’t rest, your body doesn’t, either. This makes it difficult – or almost impossible – for your body to properly regulate hormones, blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital systems. Sleep apnea in particular can lead to low oxygen levels in the blood.
This is a big reason why conditions like sleep apnea are highly associated with heart disease, respiratory illness, anxiety, depression, irritability, memory issues, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Medical issues related to sleep apnea only get more complicated with age, so it really is in your best interest to seek treatment sooner than later!
Lifestyle Struggles
Let’s say there’s a personal goal you want to accomplish. Maybe it’s exercising more, spending more time with your loved ones, or something similar – typical “seizing the day” stuff. Well, if you’re tired, cranky, and sick all the time, it’s awfully hard to want to do anything other than catch up on some z’s. Even if you do have the motivation, you might not have the physical or mental capacity needed to do what you want.
That can all change once you treat your sleep apnea and consistently get a good night’s rest!
Conclusion
Leaving your sleep apnea unaddressed can create all kinds of physical, mental, and emotional problems that extend far beyond feeling a little sleepy. If you were to ask, many people would say that treating their condition was not only worth it – it was life-changing.
About the Practice
Dr. Kyle Williams is your certified sleep medicine dentist at Beck Dental Care. Thanks to his specialized training, he’s well-qualified to treat sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy. To schedule your sleep apnea consultation today, contact our friendly team at 931-416-3698.