Sleep Apnea Health Problems Can Be Serious

When a person has sleep apnea, their breathing stops and starts various times while they slumber. There are three types of sleep apnea that a person can suffer from: obstructive, central and mixed. Obstructive is the most common and occurs when throat muscles relax; central happens when the brain doesn’t send the correct signals to the muscles that control breathing; while mixed is a little of both. Sometimes people have minor cases of sleep apnea and are able to curb the problem with life changes or nasal devices, but sometimes the problem can be far more serious.

If a person goes without treatment, there could be other sleep apnea health problems such as:

Cardiovascular problems—when a person stops breathing, the blood oxygen level drops. This can lead to an increase in blood pressure which can cause strain to the cardiovascular system. Those who have sleep apnea are up to three times more likely to have high blood pressure than those who don’t.
Daytime fatigue—this is another of the sleep apnea health problems. Because sleep apnea is characterized by constant awakening, those who suffer from the disorder cannot regain needed strength. Not sleeping can lead to falling asleep at work or while driving, and it can make a person irritable and depressed.
Complications with surgery—this is one of the more serious sleep apnea health problems. If a person has sleep apnea, surgery can be potentially dangerous. The breathing problems could cause setbacks, especially when the patient is sedated. Sufferers are advised to tell their doctors about their sleep apnea before surgery.

Other sleep apnea health problems that can arise are memory issues, headaches, mood swings and the urge to urinate frequently at night. Acid reflux can also be one of the sleep apnea health problems since those who have the disorder are more likely to have it. Consult your physician if you’re having any symptoms of sleep apnea, and treat the condition before any sleep apnea health problems occur.