Sleep apnea causes more than lack of sleep – he condition can actually be extremely dangerous. While there are different types of sleep apnea, they all have the potential to be extremely dangerous. No matter the cause of your sleep apnea, it’s important to understand the perils and just how it can affect your health. At Alpine Dental, your North Barrington dentists want to help you understand sleep apnea and your options for treatment.
Why Sleep Apnea Is Dangerous
Sleep apnea means that you have long pauses between breaths as you sleep. This can become extremely dangerous if those pauses become too long or occur too frequently. As a result, patients subconsciously wake up during the night to kickstart their breathing again. This prevents sufferers from getting a full nights’ rest.
The perils of this disorder stretch far beyond just losing sleep and snoring. Some of the risks that case studies have found include:
- The risk for diabetes– due to the stress of sleep deprivation and weight gain, increases in blood sugar can put you at risk.
- The risk for strokes– The strain that low oxygen levels can put on the heart, can cause high blood pressure leading to a stroke.
If you think you might be suffering from sleep apnea, it’s important that you seek professional treatment. It will help you sleep through the night, and keep you from being at risk for bigger problems. Effective treatments like CPAP and oral appliances can help manage your symptoms and put on the path to living a healthier life.
If sleep apnea is part of your life then seeking professional treatment can help keep you from being at risk for serious health problems. At Alpine Dental, Dr. Deborah Klein has over 25 years of experience working with patients. With a friendly team and deep knowledge of sleeping disorders, she can help you regain control of your sleep apnea. Contact our dental team in North Barrington, Illinois to see how we can restore your ability to sleep through the night.