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What are the Effects of Sleep Apnea?

D. Jeffress
D. Jeffress

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which breathing becomes shallow or pauses while the person is asleep. Chronic sleep apnea can lead to excessive snoring, waking up frequently, and feelings of fatigue during the daytime. Depending on the severity of symptoms, the effects of sleep apnea can range from mild bouts of insomnia and sore throats to chronic sleeping problems and high blood pressure. Individuals can limit the effects of sleep apnea by making healthy lifestyle choices and seeking the guidance of licensed doctors.

Most cases of sleep apnea are caused by obstructions in the throat and the narrowing of air passages. The airways become constricted when the throat muscles relax during sleep. When the muscles are relaxed, they cannot keep the soft tissue of the tongue, uvula, and tonsils out of the way of airflow. This results in momentary lapses in breathing and generally shallow breath. The immediate effects of sleep apnea are snoring, dry mouth, and irritation of throat tissue.

Sleep apnea is a condition where someone's breathing becomes shallow or interrupted during sleep.
Sleep apnea is a condition where someone's breathing becomes shallow or interrupted during sleep.

Snoring by itself can be loud enough to disrupt sleeping patterns in the sleep apnea sufferer or in his or her bed partner. A person may also be suddenly awakened in a fit of gasping for air. It can take several minutes to overcome shortness of breath, and the accompanying rise in heart rate makes it difficult for a person to fall back asleep easily. When a person experiences insomnia because of sleep apnea, he or she might experience morning headaches and sleepiness throughout the day.

Sleep apnea may cause insomnia.
Sleep apnea may cause insomnia.

Doctors have also identified several long-term effects of sleep apnea. People with chronic sleeping problems often experience feelings of anxiety and depression. Mood swings or personality changes have also been documented in people who suffer from severe insomnia. When the heart is regularly deprived of oxygen during sleep, it must work much harder to provide sufficient blood flow to other parts of the body. Strain on the cardiovascular system leads to high blood pressure, which significantly increases the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and eventual heart failure.

CPAP machines push air through the airways, helping to alleviate sleep disruption caused by sleep apnea.
CPAP machines push air through the airways, helping to alleviate sleep disruption caused by sleep apnea.

Many different remedies and medical treatments are available to reduce the effects of sleep apnea. For people with occasional or mild symptoms, simple lifestyle changes such as avoiding tobacco and alcohol, losing weight, and getting exercise are usually effective. Over-the-counter nasal sprays and strips can help keep nasal passages open at night, which can promote better airflow and reduce snoring. A person with chronic sleep apnea may need to be fitted with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, a small compressor that delivers constant airflow through a mask or nosepiece. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the tonsils and excess soft tissue that obstructs breathing.

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    • Sleep apnea is a condition where someone's breathing becomes shallow or interrupted during sleep.
      By: pressmaster
      Sleep apnea is a condition where someone's breathing becomes shallow or interrupted during sleep.
    • Sleep apnea may cause insomnia.
      By: Dan Race
      Sleep apnea may cause insomnia.
    • CPAP machines push air through the airways, helping to alleviate sleep disruption caused by sleep apnea.
      By: BVDC
      CPAP machines push air through the airways, helping to alleviate sleep disruption caused by sleep apnea.
    • For some patients, sleep apnea and hypertension are linked yet both problems often go undiagnosed.
      By: Sanjay Deva
      For some patients, sleep apnea and hypertension are linked yet both problems often go undiagnosed.
    • People with sleep apnea may suffer from daytime drowsiness.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      People with sleep apnea may suffer from daytime drowsiness.
    • Sore throats are one of the more mild symptoms of sleep apnea.
      By: staras
      Sore throats are one of the more mild symptoms of sleep apnea.
    • Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea.
      By: V&P Photo Studio
      Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea.
    • Insomnia as a result of sleep apnea may lead to morning headaches.
      By: 9nong
      Insomnia as a result of sleep apnea may lead to morning headaches.