Is Sleep Apnea a Life-Threatening Condition?

Sleep apnea is more than snoring and feeling groggy in the morning. It’s a serious sleep disorder with life-threatening consequences when left untreated. The disorder disrupts breathing while you sleep, increasing the risk of health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Don’t dismiss your snoring and daytime sleepiness as a minor inconvenience. If you have these symptoms, it’s time to schedule a consultation at Respacare in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Our sleep medicine experts can perform sleep disorder testing to determine if you have sleep apnea and develop a plan so you can sleep better.

Understanding sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which you stop and restart breathing several times while you sleep. The disruption occurs because of a blocked airway (obstructive sleep apnea) or disrupted communication between the brain and the muscles that control respiration (central sleep apnea).

Loud snoring is one of the tell-tale signs of sleep apnea. It also causes morning headaches, a dry mouth, and daytime sleepiness. 

Sleep apnea affects all ages — even children. The pauses in breathing while sleeping prevent you from getting the rest you need, increasing risk of complications. 

Sleep apnea health complications

Research shows that people with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from other health conditions. The pauses in breathing cause low blood oxygen levels, triggering your body’s stress response and waking you up so you resume breathing. This cycle happens over and over throughout the night, leading to health issues, such as:

• Increase in blood pressure
• Elevated heart rate
• Higher stress levels
• More inflammation

These related health issues place extra stress and strain on the body, particularly the heart, leading to other diseases like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and obesity.

Dangers of sleep apnea

People with sleep apnea are at a greater risk of dying from other causes, such as a heart attack or stroke. The condition also makes surgery more risky due to an increase in possible complications. 

However, the dangers of sleep apnea go beyond diseases. The daytime sleepiness from untreated sleep apnea affects concentration and awareness, increasing the risk of car accidents that can be tragic. 

Managing sleep apnea

You can sleep better when you get the right treatment for sleep apnea. We offer many options to help with breathing and sleep, including:

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy

CPAP is the gold standard treatment for sleep apnea, providing continuous oxygen flow into the airway to keep it open. We customize care at our CPAP clinic, taking health and comfort into consideration when creating a therapy plan. 

Mouthguard

Some people find CPAP therapy uncomfortable, making it hard to sleep. However,  we offer a customized mouthguard called SomnoGuard®, which pushes the jaw forward to prevent airway obstruction. 

Inspire therapy

Inspire therapy is the newest treatment for sleep apnea. It’s an implantable device that uses gentle electric pulses to keep the airway open.

Sleep apnea is a life-threatening condition when left untreated. Whether your sleep disorder is mild or severe, we can develop a plan that helps you manage it. Call our office today or book an appointment online.