Risk of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Untreated dangers

The chance of having the following diseases or the risk of body degeneration will increase if sleep apnea is not treated timely.

1. Stroke

long-term hypoxia → blood viscosity increased → easy to form thrombosis → lead to cerebral vascular occlusion or hemorrhagic strokes

2. Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Sleep apnea → blood oxygen level drop → trigger the sympathetic nervous system to transmit signal to the heart → heart activity increase the supply of oxygen to the body → increase the load of the heart → hypertension

Hypertension has the potential to cause the following problem

Brain: stroke, transient ischemic attack

Heart: myocardial infarction, angina, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure

Kidney: kidney disease, renal failure

3. Cardiovascular disease

Sleep apnea → blood oxygen level drop → trigger the sympathetic nervous system to transmit signal to the heart → heart activity increase the supply of oxygen to the body → increase the load of the heart → hypertension

This leads to coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, heart failure and so on.

4. Diabetes

Lack of sleep → obesity → increase the risk of diabetes

– Increase insulin resistance

– increase blood glucose level

– increase the chance of suffering from diabetes

5. Brain degeneration (Alzheimer’s disease)

Sleep apnea → brain hypoxia hinder the development of long-term memory

Studies have shown that 44.8% of women with sleep apnea develop brain degeneration or mild cognitive impairment

6. Emotional disease

Compared with patients without sleep apnea, patients with sleep apnea are more susceptible to mood disorders, anxiety disorders, traumatic sequelae, sleep disorders and dementia

7. Sexual function degradation

Men suffering from sleep apnea will lead to a low level of testosterone meanwhile snoring loudly will set off poor gender relations, it is common that partner requests to sleep separately.

8. Glaucoma

Sleep apnea → low blood oxygen level→ high blood pressure → cause damages to the optic nerve and increases the risk of suffering from glaucoma

Taiwan study of patients with sleep apnea

The chance of suffering from chronic glaucoma is 1.67 times higher than normal person within 5 years.

9. Gastroesophageal reflux disease

83% of patients with sleep apnea have gastrointestinal problems.

Within those patients 59.5% had two or more problems, such as esophagitis, gastritis, duodenal ulcer, bile reflux.

Studies have pointed out that the use of CPAP can improve the situation of acid reflux.

10. Traffic accidents

Chinese University conducted a study and visited 1016 professional drivers, 8.6% of people have sleep disorders.

They had a significant improvement in daytime sleepiness after using CPAP.

To find out more about the risks or crises of sleep apnea, please contact us.