Health Problems Caused by Sleep Apnea

By Sam Steward

While snoring is the most common symptom and side effect of sleep apnea, it is not the only toll that this condition takes on the body. Especially for those who have severe sleep apnea, there are very real, and very dangerous health problems associated with this issue.
For instance my colleague was always very tired at work although he thought he had between 7 and 8 hours of sleep every night. He was overweight and knew he often snored. He got tested for sleep conditions. It seemed that because of the apnea he had the heart of a 55 year-old man. His real age? 27.
Here are some of the most common health problems caused when untreated:

1. Heart disease - The short suspensions of breathing essentially causes very low blood oxygen levels, which, as you can imagine, are very bad for a person. People with sleep apnea are exponentially more likely to have a heart attack, because of the stress that it puts on the heart. Other problems like atrial fibrillation and stroke are common, which, again, increase the likelihood of a heart attack.


2. Acid reflux - Sleeping with the mouth open, on our back, in a position that allows your airways to be obstructed is also the perfect position for acid reflux to occur. The lining of the esophagus is not designed to handle the kinds of acids that the stomach produces, so regular acid reflux can actually eat away at that lining and cause ulcers. While sleep apnea does not directly cause acid reflux, these two conditions are directly linked.


3. Insomnia - Insomnia is one of the most common health problems caused by sleep apnea. When breathing stops (the most common and defining symptom), the body has to wake itself up in order to start breathing again. This means you get less sleep, and definitely a much lower quality of sleep.


4. Weight gain - Being overweight can cause sleep apnea and having apnea can cause you to gain weight. It may trigger the release of ghrelin - a hormone that can make the body crave sweets and fats. And because you are sleeping less, you will not have energy to exercise or maybe even energy to make a healthy meal, when fast food is so much easier.


5. Headaches - Morning headaches are a good indication that you have sleep apnea. This is caused largely by insufficient oxygen in the bloodstream and high blood pressure, both of which are a direct result of sleep apnea. If you wake up with frequent headaches, it might be time to get tested and find a decent solution depending on the severity of your condition.

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