A condition known as Sleep Apnea occurs when a person’s breathing temporarily stops several times while they are sleeping. When anything like this occurs, your body will rouse you awake so that you may resume breathing. The frequent disruptions to your sleep prohibit you from getting a good night’s rest, which in turn causes you to feel extra fatigued during the day.
However, sleep Apnea has additional effects besides simply making you feel drowsy. It is possible for it to lead to heart disease, diabetes, and other long-term health hazards if it is not treated.
The condition known as sleep apnea occurs when your airway becomes clogged or collapses while you are sleeping. It’s possible that as your breathing returns to normal, you’ll let out a piercing snort that will startle both you and the person sleeping next to you.
Sleep apnea has been connected to a wide variety of health issues, including being overweight and having high blood pressure. When combined with a lack of sleep, these factors can cause damage to a wide variety of bodily functions and systems.
Effects of Sleep Apnea on respiratory System
Because it prevents your body from getting enough oxygen while you’re sleeping, sleep apnea can make the symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) much more severe (COPD). If you exercise more than normal, you might notice that you have greater difficulty breathing or keeping your balance.
Effects of Sleep Apnea on Endocrine system
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the cells do not respond as well to the hormone insulin. People who have sleep apnea have an increased risk of developing insulin resistance. Your risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases when your cells don’t respond to insulin in the appropriate manner, which results in higher blood sugar levels.
A cluster of heart disease risk factors known as metabolic syndrome has been linked to sleep apnea. These risk factors include high blood pressure, high levels of LDL cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, and a larger-than-normal waist circumference. Sleep apnea is one of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
Effects of Sleep Apnea on Digestive system
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you have an increased risk of developing fatty liver disease, liver scarring, and liver enzyme levels that are significantly higher than usual.
Heartburn and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be made worse by obstructive sleep apnea, which can make it even more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Effects of Sleep Apnea on cardiovascular and circulatory systems
There is a correlation between sleep apnea and obesity and high blood pressure, both of which place additional strain on the heart. If you have apnea, you have a greater chance of having an irregular heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation, which can raise the likelihood that you will suffer a stroke. People who have sleep apnea also have an increased risk of developing heart failure.
Effects of Sleep Apnea on Nervous system
Central sleep apnea is one of the subtypes of sleep apnea, and it is characterized by a disturbance in the signals that are sent to and from the brain to facilitate breathing. This particular form of sleep apnea has also been linked to neurological symptoms such as tingling and numbness.
Effects of Sleep Apnea on Biological process of reproduction
Your urge to have sexual activity may decrease if you suffer from sleep apnea. It may contribute to erectile dysfunction in men and may damage a couple’s capacity to have children if they are male.
Effects of Sleep Apnea on Various other systems
The following are some additional common symptoms of sleep apnea:
- dry
- discomfort in the throat or the mouth in the morning
- headache
- trouble
- being mindful and alert
- irritability
Conclusion
There are a variety of treatments available for sleep apnea, which, if left untreated, can interrupt your sleep throughout the night and put you at increased risk for a number of dangerous disorders. During the time that you are asleep, treatments like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and oral appliances can assist in maintaining an adequate supply of oxygen in your lungs. If you’re overweight, losing weight can help improve your sleep apnea symptoms while also lowering your risk of developing heart disease.
Read Also – Purpose of Sleep
FAQ
What is the most serious possible side effect of sleep apnea?
Undiagnosed or untreated sleep apnea can have serious consequences. Aside from making sleep difficult, it can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and premature death.
What happens if you don’t treat your sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea symptoms can worsen if left untreated. Sleep is an essential part of the body’s recovery process; frequently disrupted sleep can increase stress levels, leading to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease. Stroke and Type 2 diabetes have also been linked to sleep apnea.
Can sleep apnea cause organ damage?
Sleep apnea increases your risk of fatty liver disease, liver scarring, and higher-than-normal levels of liver enzymes. Apnea can also aggravate heartburn and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), further disrupting your sleep.
What constitutes severe sleep apnea?
If you have severe obstructive sleep apnea, your AHI is greater than 30. Your AHI is between 15 and 30 if you have moderate obstructive sleep apnea. If you have mild obstructive sleep apnea, your AHI is between 5 and 15.
What is the primary cause of obstructive sleep apnea?
Obesity, large tonsils, or changes in hormone levels can all increase your risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain fails to send the signals required to breathe.
What is the sensation of sleep apnea fatigue?
You wake up just enough to take a few deep breaths, but not enough to recall it the next morning. This cycle occurs several times per night, leaving you tired or exhausted in the morning. The apnea caused by OSA is caused by an obstruction or blockage.
Is your heart stopping when you sleep?
For a variety of reasons, researchers believe sleep apnea produces irregular heart rhythms, which contribute to sudden cardiac death. “Sleep apnea may drop oxygen levels, activate the fight-or-flight response, and change chest pressure when the upper airway closes, mechanically straining the heart,” they explains.
What are the warning signs of sleep apnea?
Because apnea frequently causes you to breathe through your mouth, this occurs. Mouth breathing can also cause dry mouth. Sometimes I wake up with a choking or gasping sensation. Insomnia, restless sleep, or repeated awakenings
References-
- How is sleep apnea treated? (2012).
nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea/treatment - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2015). Sleep apnea: Complications.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/basics/complications/con-20020286 - Morgenstern M. (n.d.). Weight gain & sleep apnea.
amsleep.org/how-weight-gain-causes-sleep-apnea/
