The Importance of Treatments for Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person’s breathing to be interrupted by repeatedly starting and stopping during sleep. This disorder can cause many complications, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, heart attack, diabetes, and in severe cases, can also lead to death. There are various treatments for sleep apnea, and it is important to treat the condition at the earliest to avoid it worsening.
1. Sleep apnea and its complications
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that one out of five adults suffers from. Most people may not even be aware that they are suffering from the condition. The most common symptom is a sudden difficulty in breathing when asleep. One may gasp for breath while asleep and snore loudly. Sometimes, they may even wake up gasping.
As a result, those suffering from sleep apnea find it difficult to sleep properly at night. This, in turn, causes tiredness and an inability to concentrate in the morning. Individuals have headaches and feel that they lack energy. Sleep apnea can lead to worsening of other problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma.
It increases the risk of suffering cardiac problems and may also lead to a heart attack. Sleep apnea sufferers can even face the risk of a stroke.
2. Reasons to avail of treatments for sleep apnea
You should opt for one of the treatments for sleep apnea immediately after being diagnosed with the sleep disorder. There are many reasons why immediate treatment is absolutely necessary. These include:
- Sleep apnea causes snoring, which can be very disturbing for anyone who shares a bed with the affected person. This can lead to problems with the relationship as it is not easy to function for a prolonged period without proper sleep.
- Sleep apnea does not allow sufferers to sleep well because of the breathing problems experienced. As a result, they feel sleepy and tired in the daytime, and this can affect their work. They feel lethargic, suffer from headaches, and their general quality of life suffers. Getting treated for sleep apnea ensures that the sufferer can get a peaceful night’s sleep. It helps in keeping you alert and energetic during the daytime. Also, problems like morning headaches disappear. General productivity improves when one’s sleep problems are solved.
- Sleep apnea leads to hypoxia, where oxygen levels are reduced. It leads to elevated blood pressure, inflammation, and more pressure on the heart. The chances of a heart attack increase by 30% for those who have the condition. Also, the chances of a stroke are doubled for those with this sleep apnea.
- Moreover, those who have sleep apnea are at double the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. This can lead to other conditions that can severely affect one’s health.
The various treatments for sleep apnea focus on enabling one to get a peaceful, complete night’s sleep, ensuring their daily life and activities do not suffer the consequences of this disorder.