Beware of the 5 Hidden Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea

No one wants to snore – or to share a bed with someone who does – but if you do frequently wake up with a dry mouth or feeling groggy, you may be sawing logs much of the night. And it’s more than a harmless habit. Unfortunately, snoring often actually indicates sleep apnea, which can take a negative toll on your overall health. Keep reading to learn about the 5 hidden dangers of untreated sleep apnea, then make an appointment with a dentist who offers sleep apnea treatment to get the relief you need. 

1: Memory Loss

Have you noticed that your brain feels kind of fuzzy after a night of bad sleep? It’s not your imagination. You need to get sufficient deep sleep to be able to store memories – and snoring caused by sleep apnea frequently disrupts your sleep throughout the night, preventing you from ever falling into the deep sleep that your brain requires to feel refreshed and on top of your game mentally in the morning. 

2: Heart Trouble

People who have sleep apnea are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease. Waking frequently during the night due to snoring/sleep apnea causes stress on your body, which can raise blood pressure. A reduction in oxygen to the heart also increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. 

3: Daytime Sleepiness

If you find that it is difficult to get through your day without wanting to take a nap, you may just need something to spice up your afternoon routine – or you may be suffering from untreated sleep apnea. People who have this condition note that their work performance suffers until they are able to receive a diagnosis and treatment. 

4: Depression

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that not sleeping well can cause you to experience depression. Unfortunately, being depressed can also cause you to have even worse sleep. This is true for the person who is experiencing sleep apnea as well as anyone who sleeps nearby, like a partner or spouse. 

5: Car Accidents

Have you heard the statistic that car accidents during early morning commutes increase after the spring time change, when folks lose an hour of sleep? If you snore because of sleep apnea, you are losing sleep every single night – which, under the same thinking, means that you are at a higher risk of getting into a car accident on a daily basis. 

The good news is that each of these side effects can be controlled with treatment for sleep apnea. If you feel like you may be negatively affected by snoring (whether it is your own or your partner’s), don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist for treatment. 

Meet the Dentist

Dr. Robert Dernick is a highly trained and experience dentist offering sleep apnea treatment and snoring solutions. Oral appliance therapy or combined therapy helps patients receive the full, uninterrupted night’s sleep that they have been missing out on. To learn more about your options or to schedule an appointment, call his office at (281) 853-8924 or contact the team via their website.