Consequences of Sleep Apnea – Las Vegas, NV
Sleep Apnea Causes More Than Just Restless Nights
The importance of getting the right quantity AND quality of sleep each night has been studied more and more in recent years and is now understood to have profound effects on every area of your health. In fact, some doctors have even estimated that untreated sleep apnea triples a person’s risk of early death.
As the founder of a sleep center in Las Vegas, Dr. Pam West is dedicated to educating people about the consequences of sleep apnea and providing simple, effective treatment that improves their general health and well-being. And when you get great sleep, every area of your health can thrive so you can enjoy a better quality of life. Below, you’ll find a brief description of the impact of sleep apnea on different parts of your body. If you have any questions or want to schedule a FREE consultation at iSleepSolutions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Mental Health
Everyone knows what happens to a small child when they don’t get a nap or enough sleep the night before. Without good-quality sleep, adults are just as susceptible to mental and emotional issues such as depression, irritability, anxiety, anger, and daytime fogginess or confusion.
Importantly, sleep apnea can also cause memory loss in patients of all ages (memories are formed during the deeper stages of sleep that you don’t get with constant interruptions in breathing).
Digestive Health
Acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are often exacerbated by sleep apnea, leading to more heartburn that can interrupt your sleep further.
And while you may not think of your liver as part of your digestive system, it plays an important role in digesting fats and processing nutrients from the small intestine. People with untreated sleep apnea in Las Vegas are more likely to have fatty liver disease, abnormal levels of liver enzymes, and liver scarring.
Immunity
Your immune system works hard while you sleep to keep you healthy. Sleep apnea disrupts that process and can lead to more frequent colds, infections, and other illnesses.
Insulin Levels, Diabetes, and Metabolic Syndrome
Sleep apnea increases your risk for insulin resistance, one of the key factors in diabetes. For patients who have been previously diagnosed with diabetes, untreated sleep apnea makes it more difficult to manage their glucose levels.
There’s also a greater chance of developing metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of risk factors that includes high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and an unhealthy waist circumference.
Respiratory System
In addition to breathing difficulties during sleep, sleep apnea can increase the risk of complications associated with adult asthma.
Bodyweight
With sleep apnea, the risk for obesity goes up significantly, which then has a negative impact on your entire body and increases the strain on your heart.
Cardiac Health
Your heart health is affected by sleep apnea in many ways, including:
- Cholesterol – Both your total amount and type of cholesterol are adversely affected (i.e. higher levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol).
- Blood pressure – It’s harder to maintain a healthy blood pressure of less than 120/80.
- Abnormal heart rhythm – In addition to affecting your heart, this also increases your risk of stroke.
If you’re concerned about the impact of sleep apnea on your health, give us a call today to schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. West. Treatment is easier than you think and will lower your risk of all of these health problems!