Most people don’t realize the importance of a good night’s rest until it’s gone. Untreated sleep apnea symptoms can take a toll on your overall well-being, affecting much more than your yawn-filled mornings. If there are warning signs that something’s not right with your slumber, it’s best to address it as soon as possible.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Derived from Greek, the word apnea can be translated as “breathless.” Medically, it describes a sleep-related condition where your breathing repeatedly stops during the night. This triggers a survival response, waking you up just in time to take a breath.
The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when the throat muscles relax too much, blocking the airway. Advanced laser dentistry in Charlotte, NC, offers an effective sleep apnea treatment, helping to tighten these tissues in one quick dentist’s appointment – but more on that later.
Recognizing Symptoms of Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea
It’s easy to convince yourself that your snoring is nothing serious or that your daytime sleepiness is caused by the amount of work you have. Because of that, many cases of OSA are left undiagnosed and untreated. So, before we take a look at the consequences of leaving sleep apnea untreated, the symptoms it brings may include
- Restless nights – insomnia, night sweats, waking up multiple times during the night,
- Irregular breathing patterns – waking up gasping for air or having a dry mouth and a sore throat each morning,
- Cheyne-Stokes breathing (CBS) – the breathing speeds up, then slows down, followed by a few seconds of pause before the cycle starts again,
- Daytime sleepiness – resulting in issues with concentration, memory loss, mood swings, and constant headaches,
- Loud snoring – loud enough to wake you or your partner.
What Are the Symptoms of Untreated Sleep Apnea in Children?
Though more common in adults, specifically those over 50 years of age, children can also be affected by this condition. If you notice these signs, make sure to schedule an appointment with your pediatric dentist:
- Loud snoring,
- Increased arm and leg movements during sleep,
- Night sweats and bedwetting,
- Unusual sleeping positions,
- Hyperactivity or trouble focusing, similar to ADHD symptoms.
What Are the Potential Health Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea Symptoms?
When it comes to your overall well-being, diet and exercise are often talked about. In this discussion, the importance of a good sleeping pattern can sometimes get overlooked, but it’s equally as crucial.
While the reflex that causes sleep apnea is what’s keeping you alive, it can significantly worsen the quality of rest you’re getting, especially when it’s happening many times during the night. That’s why this condition can have some serious consequences if left untreated.
Sleep Apnea Can Negatively Affect Your Cardiovascular Health
Research has brought to light many connections between this sleep-related disorder and conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. In most cases, this is in connection to obesity and problems with metabolism, but it doesn’t have to be the only reason.
Here are the health conditions that can get increasingly difficult to maintain if you’ve got untreated OSA:
- High blood pressure – when you wake up numerous times during the night, your body becomes more stressed, resulting in increased blood pressure levels,
- Heart disease – as you’re dealing with low oxygen levels, this condition can make it hard for your brain to properly control the blood flow,
- Heart failure – due to irregular blood flow, the chances of developing right-sided heart failure (RHF) or pulmonary hypertension are also increased,
- Ischemic stroke – caused by a blocked blood vessel that pumps to the brain, these strokes are 25% more likely to happen during REM sleep early in the morning,
- Type 2 diabetes – over 80% of people with type 2 diabetes have OSA, and leaving it untreated can significantly worsen both conditions simultaneously,
- Weight gain – OSA can make it harder to shed the extra weight, but combining treatment with proper diet and exercise can be very effective,
- Metabolic syndrome – this means you’re dealing with a combination of the aforementioned conditions, which, as we’ve seen, can be negatively impacted by OSA.
Several Other Conditions Can Be Worsened With Untreated OSA
Many other health conditions, including adult asthma and acid reflux, can go both ways in connection to your OSA, making it worse and also getting worse themselves. Moreover, untreated OSA can significantly affect your mood swings, causing feelings of depression and anxiety, as well as problems with memory and focus.
Last but certainly not least, interrupted nights bleed into sleepy days. It might not sound that serious, but excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia) can pose significant risks. Your lack of focus can get you into some trouble, especially at work or while driving your car. That’s why you should visit your dentist in Charlotte, NC, as soon as you notice the first warning signs, not wait for them to develop into something more serious.
How Your Charlotte Dentist in South Park Can Help
Treatments for sleep apnea include various devices and mouthpieces, but nothing matches the benefits of laser dentistry. These technologies offer simple and completely non-invasive procedures that can help with your OSA and snoring. By finally getting some quality rest, you’ll be able to work on your overall well-being, addressing any other conditions that might’ve been affected.
Aspire Dental Wellness Is Here to Help With Your Sleepy Journey
Much before your restless nights become overwhelming, let your Charlotte, NC, dentist conduct a sleep study to diagnose and treat the problem. Aspire Dental Wellness, led by Dr. Sladjana Bjelac, offers effective and long-lasting results thanks to treatments such as Fotona’s NightLaseⓇ and Solea Sleep.
Our practice of holistic dentistry covers all bases, crafting the journey toward a good night’s rest with your overall well-being in mind. Don’t hesitate to contact us – we’ll start planning your treatment right away.
