What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when an individual does not receive enough oxygen to their brain during sleep. Oftentimes, this manifests as loud snoring or gasps for air at night. Although this may seem like a minor inconvenience, ignoring the signs of sleep apnea can lead to more serious consequences.
Types
There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to communicate with the lungs, resulting in the body being unable to take a breath. The more common type of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, is when resistance in the airway prevents a sufficient amount of oxygen from reaching the lungs. In this case, the deficiency is in the airway as opposed to the brain.
Short-Term Consequences
In the short term, sleep apnea disrupts sleeping patterns. This can lead to fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, mood swings, and loss of productivity. Affected individuals will sometimes struggle to complete assignments at work or have difficulty maintaining focus during everyday tasks like driving. The latter could have serious consequences, as an individual with sleep apnea is 2.5 times more likely of getting into a car accident than someone without sleep apnea.
Long-Term Consequences
The consequences of sleep apnea are not just loud snoring and tiredness during the day. Research has shown linkages between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, and shortened life spans. The majority of individuals who suffer from sleep apnea are obese. This could explain the relationship between sleep apnea and other chronic conditions since obesity is also linked to diseases like strokes and heart attacks. However, studies have been conducted that show an independent link between sleep apnea and diabetes, meaning that even affected individuals who are not obese are more likely to have diabetes.
Sleep Apnea and Aging
The majority of people who have sleep apnea are older and are more susceptible to the negative effects of the disease. It is common for many sleep apnea patients to think their condition is not a big deal, simply because they are used to it. However, the brain of an elderly individual is not as equipped to handle the stresses of sleep apnea as the brain of a young person. This phenomenon can be compared to the effects of drinking alcohol. Someone in their twenties is able to more easily recover from a night of drinking than a person in their forties or fifties. This is because younger brains are more resilient and have a higher tolerance for toxic substances.
Importance of Seeking Help
Ultimately, sleep apnea has the potential to cause serious short and long-term consequences. Diabetes, heart attacks, and early death are all conditions associated with the disease. Since sleep plays such a critical role in daily functioning, it is important to seek out medical attention for excessive snoring or disturbances during sleep that could be a result of sleep apnea.