Dangers of Sleep Apnea

The dangers of Sleep Apnea are many and if you are diagnosed with the sleeping disorder it is highly advisable you assure the problem is corrected as soon as possible.  The most common form of Sleep Apnea is Obstructive Sleep Apnea also referred to by the acronym OSA.  It is diagnosed in eighty percent of Apnea cases. 

In order to understand the dangers of Sleep Apnea, it  is necessary to first define the disorder.  Sleep Apnea is a breathing disorder which occurs during sleep.  It is characterized as follows: 

The air passageways become relaxed during sleep:  This causes the sufferer to literally stop breathing.  The stoppages as to breath can occur a couple times each hour or well over one-hundred times depending on severity.  A sleep index is used within the sleep lab to determine if an individual is indeed a sufferer.  If the Apnea index is five meaning five or more times (for ten seconds or greater) the person stops breathing then he or she is a sufferer  The breathing stoppages generally occur when the patient is in deep sleep.   

All that said, the dangers of Sleep Apnea if it goes untreated are many.  This is why if you attain a diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, you are well-advised to seek some form of treatment immediately.  The affiliated dangers of Sleep Apnea are listed below: 

1. Cardiovascular disease;
2. Heart attack;
3. Stroke;
4. High blood pressure; and,
5. Diabetes.

Statistically, it has been reasoned eighty to ninety percent of individuals suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea have not been diagnosed.   

Your spouse or partner may wish to observe what happens while you sleep if Obstructive Sleep Apnea is suspected.  Following are signs an individual is suffering from the sleep disorder (while sleeping): 

1. Loud snoring;
2. Frequent stoppages occur with respect to breathing;
3. Gasping for air during sleep or waking up gasping for air; and,
4. Waking up quite often for no particular reason.

There are also signs you suffer from Sleep Apnea during waking hours.  Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you may be suffering from the sleep disorder: 

1. Do you wake up in the morning exhausted not ready to face the challenges of the day ahead?
2. Do you experience morning headache?
3. Do you remain sleepy throughout the day?
4. Do you fall asleep during daytime hours?
5. Do you find it difficult to properly concentrate or maintain productivity levels at work?
6. Have you arrived home not remembering a portion of the trip?

As may be noted, all of the above present clear indicators that you may be suffering from Sleep Apnea.  In order to attain a true diagnosis, once again, it's advisable you find a sleep lab to monitor your nighttime sleep patterns.  Once diagnosed, you may be advised to wear an airway mask to keep air passages from closing or a special device or appliance made especially for Sleep Apnea patients.