When untreated, not only does sleep apnea cause chronic snoring, days full of sleepiness and nights full of restlessness, but the condition has also been determined as a factor in one’s cardiovascular health.
When untreated, sleep apnea can cause a person to stop breathing hundreds of times during the night; some patients stop breathing as many times as 60-100 times every hour while they sleep. During these periods of non-breathing, the body is starved of necessary oxygen. When this occurs, the body naturally sends signals to the brain that then tell the brain to elevate stress hormone levels. This causes the heart to go into over-drive and the organ begins working much harder than it normally does. Being continuously overworked weakens the heart which can heighten one’s chance of both heart attack and stroke.
Studies have confirmed that men with untreated sleep apnea were at a three times higher risk of suffering from a stroke. With this new information, medical researchers hope to determine whether or not proper sleep apnea treatment can lessen the chance of failing cardiovascular health.
If you snore, that may be your first warning sign that you have sleep apnea. While of course not everyone who snores suffers from sleep apnea, snoring is a condition worth getting looked at, especially if it does not go away with certain behavioral changes. Snoring accompanied by daytime sleepiness, a lack of concentration and energy along with morning headaches is a tell-tale sign that one may be suffering from sleep apnea. If you suffer from various sleep apnea symptoms, you may have sleep apnea. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Dunayer is a great resource for figuring out the best sleep apnea treatment method for you. With treatment not only will you sleep better but your overall health will improve. Dr. Dunayer offers oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea treatment, which is a great alternative to CPAP. Contact our office online or by phone at (845) 627-7645, and schedule an appointment today!
