As a sleep disorder that’s marked by chronic snoring, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be loud. However, patients who suffer from it often don’t realize it, typically mistaking their condition for nothing more than chronic snoring. That’s because patients aren’t conscious during an apnea episode, when their airway becomes clogged and they stop breathing. The repetition of such episodes leads to increasingly loud snoring and can make it impossible for your body to rest. Therefore, sleep apnea makes it harder for your body to continue functioning properly, and the effects can become increasingly more prevalent as time passes.
Concentrating Every Day
The most prominent long-term effect of sleep apnea is the increasing disruptiveness of constant sleep deprivation. When your airway becomes clogged and forces you to stop breathing, your mind and body have to wake up enough to start breathing again. This prevents you from resting properly, which leads to symptoms of sleep deprivation such as an inability to concentrate every day. This can affect the quality of your work/school life, as well as your interactions with others and your overall quality of life.
Staying Healthy Overall
Besides sleep deprivation, OSA also leads to chronic oxygen deprivation, which can increase your risks of several different chronic health issues. For instance, patients with untreated sleep apnea are at significantly higher risks of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and respiratory troubles. It can also lower your immune system’s ability to deal with common conditions, such as the cold, leading to more frequent cases of illness.
Learn How to Sleep Easier with a Custom Appliance
If sleep apnea is making your life harder, then find out how we can treat it with a custom-designed sleep appliance. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at 832-437-3849. We proudly welcome patients and families from Katy, Fulshear, Weston Lakes, Simonton, Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, Wallis, Orchard, Cypress, Sealy, Columbus, and all surrounding communities.
