Reasons Why Sleep Apnea Can Be Serious If Left Untreated

Untreated sleep apnea can put you at risk for numerous health problems, harming your short and long-term health. 

“People with sleep apnea are at increased risk of heart-related conditions,” says Adrian Pristas, M.D., pulmonologist and corporate medical director, Centers for Sleep Medicine at Hackensack Meridian Health. “It also raises the risk of mental health conditions.”

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea arises when your airway becomes blocked when you lie down.

• Your throat muscles or tongue may relax, blocking your airway. 
• Excess weight or enlarged tonsils may also block the airway.

When your airway is blocked as you sleep, oxygen can’t consistently reach your brain. In response, your body releases stress hormones that increase the risk of health conditions.

The combination of less oxygen reaching the brain and more stress hormones is harmful. Both may damage the heart, lead to blood-sugar abnormalities and more.

Is it dangerous to ignore sleep apnea?

Untreated sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Heart failure
• Heart arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• A shortened lifespan

Side effects of sleep apnea, like daytime fatigue, may cause chronic mood changes.

Untreated sleep apnea is also linked to:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Drowsy driving

Daytime grogginess may cause you to feel tired while driving. Drowsy driving significantly increases the risk of car accidents, both non-fatal and fatal.

“Drowsy driving, like drunk driving, impairs your alertness and ability to make decisions,” Dr. Pristas says. “If you’re sleepy, you may risk the health of anyone in your car and on the road.”

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Many people don’t realize that they have sleep apnea, because symptoms arise during sleep. Often, a sleeping partner alerts someone that they may have the condition.

Common symptoms include:

• Snoring
• Pauses in breathing
• Periodically gasping for breath while sleeping
• Brief nighttime awakenings, which you may or may not recall
• Insomnia
• Restlessness while lying in bed
• Headache upon awakening
• Dry mouth upon awakening
• Daytime grogginess and fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Negative mood, depression or anxiety

“Snoring by itself is not confirmation that someone has sleep apnea,” says Dr. Pristas. “However, many people who stop breathing in their sleep also snore.”

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

People are more likely to develop sleep apnea if they are:

• Male
• Obese
• Menopausal women
• Over age 60
• Taking opioids to relieve pain
• Managing heart disease or diabetes

Treatments for Sleep Apnea

Seeking treatment for sleep apnea decreases the risk of health-related complications. Treatments are designed to keep oxygen flowing to your brain all night.

Treatments include:

• A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. It sends a constant flow of air through your nose, keeping your airway open.
• A mouth guard that is molded to fit you exactly. It’s designed to position your tongue and jaw to keep your airway open.
• A nerve stimulator. This implanted device stimulates a nerve to prevent your tongue from blocking your airway.
• Surgery. Removing soft tissue from the nose or throat may unblock the airway during sleep.

“Many people with sleep apnea find relief when they use a CPAP machine,” Dr. Pristas says. “Constant air flow helps oxygen reach the brain, limiting the release of stress hormones.”

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Adrian Pristas, M.D.
• To make an appointment with Dr. Pristas, or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.