Human existence depends critically on sleep. Humans sleep from 25% to 35% of the time on average during their lifetime. Sleep enables the body and brain to relax and recover from the stresses of daily life. As a result, having trouble sleeping can result in a variety of health issues and, if addressed, serious repercussions. 

According to the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA), 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. About 80% of these people are thought to have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), although they are not yet identified. You're looking at a common issue when you consider that nearly half of CPAP users cease using their equipment during the first one to three weeks of use. People tend to forget about the long-term effect of sleep apnea, that’s we implore you to look into treatments for sleep apnea. 

When someone stops breathing while they are asleep, that is sleep apnea. The effect is that the brain repeatedly experiences moments of suffocation. People frequently chuckle when a snorer puts out a sudden, explosive snort because, according to popular culture, snoring is seen as humorous. In actuality, this loud snort is frequently just the person gasping for air because the brain is not receiving enough oxygen. Both the sleeper and their sleeping companion are both affected by sleep apnea. 

The most popular method of treating sleep apnea is CPAP therapy, which uses compressed air to keep your airways open while you sleep. 

The other two types of sleep apnea are Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) and Complex or Mixed Sleep Apnea, which is frequently referred to as CompSA to prevent confusion as it would have the same acronym as Central Sleep Apnea. OSA is one of these three types of sleep apnea. 

The brain's capacity to process information and retain attention is directly impacted by sleep deprivation. According to studies, being up for 20 straight hours causes cognitive impairment at the same level as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10—for context, you might be aware that the legal limit in most states is 0.08. Two hundredths may not seem like much, but when it comes to your ability to drive safely, it might mean the difference between life and death. Additionally, a number of other studies support this, such as one in which participants were asked to operate a car in a simulator while sleep-deprived, which led to aggressive driving and a lower capacity to maintain control. 

So, Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous? 

Yes. The symptoms of sleep apnea extend beyond snoring. Your neurological system tries to wake you up when you stop breathing during the night when you have sleep apnea, which can happen dozens of times per hour. Your body suffers if these respiratory events go untreated, especially your heart and circulatory systems. 

To wake you up, your body—including your heart, neurological system, and hormones—must work overtime. As a result, you'll start breathing again to inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. All of this activity—hours of crisis mode each night—can increase or disturb your blood pressure and prematurely wear out your body's systems. 

You've probably heard that the best things you can do for your cardiovascular health are regular exercise and a heart-healthy diet. However, it turns out that your heart's health also depends on the quality of your sleep. Untreated sleep apnea in particular has been linked to a higher risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease. The scariest aspect? It's possible that you are unaware of this widespread issue. 

Untreated sleep apnea and sleep-disordered breathing doubled the chance of death over an 18-year period, according to one study, regardless of the patient’s age, body mass index (BMI), or gender. Cardiovascular disease was most likely to be the cause of death in those with untreated sleep apnea. Stroke, cancer, and suicide were a few additional causes. 

Your chance of passing away from a cardiovascular disease or event can be significantly decreased by routinely using CPAP therapy. Untreated sleep apnea can definitely impact your life expectancy. The number of apnea or hypopnea events you encounter each hour decreases when your sleep apnea is properly diagnosed and treated, which lowers the strain on your body to maintain breathing. CPAP therapy is crucial if you suffer from sleep apnea and want to maintain your health. 

Is Sleep Apnea a Serious Condition? 

As crucial as quantity is the quality of sleep. If you have sleep apnea and don't get treatment, your body will keep waking you up to breathe, even if you intend on sleeping for eight hours or more, and you may even believe you're receiving that much sleep. The end consequence is that your sleep is broken up into teeny parts, each of which is too small for you to go through each stage of sleep normally. 

Rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep have distinct stages, and if you can't move through them all without interruption, you miss out on crucial physiological processes that let your body regulate itself, organize and consolidate memories, and repair bone and tissue damage. 

Aside from allowing your body to rest during the day, which is similar to a computer going into sleep mode (no pun intended), getting enough quality sleep also makes it possible for some crucial processes to run without interruption. 

What Happens If Sleep Apnea Isn't Treated? 

Sleep apnea is a significant medical disease that can worsen if it is not treated. The distinction between a risk factor and a symptom must be kept in mind at this point. A symptom is an immediate impact a condition has on you, while a risk factor is a condition you may have that could increase your likelihood of developing another one. High blood pressure is a risk factor for OSA, but nocturnal sleep debt is a symptom. 

Your heart health and sinuses are a few of the important repercussions of not treating sleep apnea. Because of nasal obstructions or other sinus-related problems, people with untreated OSA frequently end up breathing through their mouths. A dry mouth from this can result in other oral health issues like foul breath and gum disease. Your sinuses suffer directly when you don't get enough sleep. The body loses a large portion of its healthy disease-fighting, anti-inflammatory cells in the nose. 

You experience more than just fatigue as a result of untreated sleep apnea. It actually disrupts a number of your body's most vital processes and can harm your health, well-being, and longevity from head to toe. Consult our sleep apnea doctor Beverly, MA for a diagnosis and treatment plan if you believe you or a loved one has untreated sleep apnea. Don’t hesitate to book an appointment if you are experiencing sleep apnea symptoms there is sleep apnea treatment Beverly, MA. We can also help you to identify the causes of sleep apnea.