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Most of us know that sleep apnea is a condition in which you stop breathing intermittently during the night. Not everyone knows, however, that it has been linked to serious medical conditions that threaten your health and well-being. As we have learned more and more about sleep apnea in recent decades, it is becoming apparent that there is a silent epidemic of sleep apnea cases—many of whom do not seek treatment. How Sleep Apnea Can Ruin Your Health and Quality of Life The health risks posed by sleep apnea are caused by two issues: oxygen deprivation and sleep deprivation. When you breathe through your mouth instead of the nose, you are not giving your body the full benefit of a long slow exhale. Breathing through the mouth releases air too quickly, and your lungs absorb less oxygen. This can make all your organs function less optimally, and weaken your overall health in specific ways. In cases of Alzheimer’s disease, 73 percent of patients also have sleep apnea. That number goes up to 76 percent for heart disease patients, and 72 percent for cases of type II diabetes. If this doesn’t frighten you, go back and read the last two sentences again! The research is ongoing, but we are discovering more and more health problems that have a connection to sleep apnea. The sleep deprivation associated with sleep apnea is a separate, but equally frightening, issue. When you stop breathing at night—something that can happen hundreds of times per hour, in severe cases—your body must wake briefly to initiate breathing. Patients rarely have any memories of waking up, since they do not regain consciousness, but the brain most certainly wakes. Each apnea event interrupts the brain wave patterns that indicate a patient is experiencing REM sleep. This phase of dreaming sleep is considered crucial to receiving the full restorative and regenerative benefits of sleep. If your sleep is interrupted all night long, this can lead to sleepiness and a decline in cognitive function. Severe sleep apnea patients may have trouble concentrating, learning new tasks, remembering details, or maintaining a good mood. That’s why we always ask patients how well they sleep. Some red flags for interrupted sleep include: - Never feeling like you are getting enough rest, even after 8 hours of sleep or more. - Feeling tired upon waking. - Needing two or more hours to feel alert after waking. - A dependence on caffeine or energy drinks. - Difficulty concentrating. - A tendency to “zone out” when doing repetitive tasks. Symptoms to Watch Out For Snoring: Sleep apnea is closely tied to snoring, as both conditions are caused by an obstructed airway when you sleep at night. Many snorers suffer from sleep apnea, but the only way to know for certain whether you have the condition is to conduct a sleep study in a sleep clinic. Waking with a sore throat, dry mouth: Whether you snore or not, if you have sleep apnea, you will be breathing through the mouth, which can dry out the throat and oral cavity. Gasping in your sleep: If you don’t have a partner or family member who can observe you a couple of hours after you fall asleep, you may want to use a sound-activated recording app to record yourself while you sleep at night. Patients with sleep apnea tend to gasp and choke in a way that is clearly audible and noticeable. Emotional symptoms: Sleep apnea can affect your mood and cognitive function. Sufferers may be more likely to be depressed, have anxiety, or experience mood swings that seem to come out of nowhere. If life feels like a constant uphill struggle and you never feel “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,” it may be connected to poor quality of sleep. If you experience any of the symptoms above, snore, or suspect you may have sleep apnea, contact your doctor. He or she will refer you to a sleep clinic, where a sleep study will be conducted to assess your potential condition. Sleep apnea is treatable, but you must take the initiative if you want to improve your health. Dr. Christopher Tye is a dentist, oral surgeon, and TMJ specialist in Colleyville TX. He routinely treats sleep apnea patients with surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. To learn more about sleep apnea, visit his website Texas Oral Surgery Specialists.
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