Risks of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can affect anyone irregardless of their gender, age, race or ethnicity. Everyone from children to adults are capable of having a form a sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is where a person stops breathing while they are asleep. It affects 1 to 3% of children. It can also be genetic. If a family member is diagnosed others should be tested to see if they have the disorder. The diagnosis for sleep apnea can be difficult because the symptoms vary and are not specific. A specialist sleep study is necessary to determine if someone has sleep apnea. The risks of going undiagnosed can be very harmful.
Although sleep apnea can affect anyone there are some groups that are more likely to develop it. Males are more likely than females to develop a form of sleep apnea. Being overweight and over the age of forty can also make you more likely to develop sleep apnea. If you are in a high risk group and start feeling some of the common effects of sleep apnea you should see your doctor.
Most often when a person has sleep apnea they may not even be aware. Someone may tell them that they snore a lot or notice they wake up throughout the night. If sleep apnea is left untreated it can cause some harmful effects on your body. You could develop high blood pressure and other heart problems. It can cause memory loss, weight gain, impotency and headaches. Sleep apnea causes a lack of blood oxygen and this has a bad effect on your organs. In older people it has caused dementia or worsened already present dementia. It usually isn’t harmful when it first develops but over time the lack of sleep and oxygen that results from it can really take a toll on your mind and body.
The long term effects of untreated sleep apnea can put you in risk of injury or possibly death. You could experience extreme tiredness that could affect you at work or while driving. This could lead to an accident where you or others are hurt. Your brain can also be affected. You could stop remembering things or not be able to think as clearly as you once did. Some people slip into depression. When you take the effects sleep apnea has on your body and mind you could end up with relationship issues, employment problems and accidents. Sleep apnea can even cause death. The effects can change your life.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea or someone has mentioned you snore or wake up a lot when sleeping then you should discuss it with your doctor. Especially if you are experiencing common side effects of sleep apnea. Once you are diagnosed there are numerous treatments that can help you get a better nights sleep.
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