Obstructive sleep apnea is a harmful condition that can absolutely wreak havoc on your health if it is left untreated in the long-term. Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed because patients don’t know that their distressing symptoms are actually the result of disrupted sleep! Our Saint Louis sleep apnea dentists encourage every patient to be on the lookout for the signs of sleep apnea, and to promptly seek treatment if necessary. If left untreated, sleep apnea can contribute to a number of health problems, including…
Fatigue and exhaustion
Obstructive sleep apnea actually disrupts your body’s ability to get a healthy, full night’s sleep. If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, you’ll notice that you don’t feel fresh and ready to go when you wake up. Many patients report that they fall asleep during the day, and feel like they’re dragging themselves through daily tasks.
Headaches
Along with fatigue, many sleep apnea sufferers experience debilitating headaches throughout the day and night. These headaches are the result of exhaustion and increased tension due to sleep apnea.
Elevated blood pressure
Sleep apnea actually deprives your body of sufficient oxygen as you sleep. So when your airway becomes blocked due to sleep apnea, your oxygen levels dip and strain your heart. Long-term sleep apnea can damage your heart and cause dangerously elevated blood pressure. In order to avoid this damage, it’s crucial that you find effective treatment for sleep apnea so that you’re body is able to get the oxygen it needs as you sleep.
As you can see, sleep apnea can cause some serious whole-body health problems if it is left untreated. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist if you notice signs and symptoms of sleep apnea. Our Saint Louis sleep apnea dentists are here to help you stay healthy—give us a call to get started!