The Health Risks of Chronic Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Do you often wake up gasping for air during sleep? Or has your sleep partner mentioned that you snore regularly? You might have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea and chronic snoring are sleep-breathing disorders that often happen when the muscles at the back of your throat relax too much.

As you struggle to breathe, the upper airway muscles vibrate, making loud noises, called snoring. In cases of sleep apnea, breathing stops briefly and then resumes almost immediately. It can happen throughout the night. Seeking prompt treatment for sleep apnea and chronic snoring can improve your sleep and prevent bigger issues in the future. Visit our dental office for snoring problems and sleep apnea in Rifle, CO.

Health complications caused by untreated sleep apnea and chronic snoring

While mild snoring and sleep apnea might not result in serious side effects, untreated sleep apnea and chronic snoring may affect your health in several ways. For instance, they can increase your risk of:

• Heart disease

Numerous studies have linked severe sleep apnea to cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and heart attacks. Research shows that people with sleep apnea are twice as likely to develop fatal and nonfatal heart problems. Fortunately, treating or managing sleep apnea significantly reduces your risk of heart disease to normal.

• Arrhythmias

People with severe sleep apnea and chronic snoring have a higher risk of developing an arrhythmia (an irregular heart rhythm). Research has shown that people with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to experience episodes of atrial fibrillation (arrhythmia) than those without sleep apnea or under treatment. In the long run, untreated sleep apnea can affect the conductive heart system or enlarge the heart’s left atrium.

• Stroke

A recent sleep study linked chronic snoring to a higher risk of carotid atherosclerosis. A condition in which the arteries in the neck narrow due to fatty deposits called plaque. If left untreated, the condition can result in a stroke. In other words, the longer and louder you snore, the greater the risk of getting a stroke.

• GERD

GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) is common in people who snore or have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can affect how you breathe in and out during sleep, causing pressure changes that can suck up stomach contents back to the esophagus. Both sleep apnea and GERD are also related to excessive weight gain.

• Injuries from accidents

Chronic sleep apnea and snoring can cause sleep deprivation, often resulting in excessive daytime fatigue and sleepiness. Operating heavy machinery or driving in such a state can exhaust you and increase your risk of causing accidents. It can result in multiple injuries or deaths.

• Diabetes

Sleep apnea reduces oxygen flow throughout the body. It can negatively affect your blood glucose levels and increase insulin resistance, increasing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

• Mental health issues

Proper sleep is vital for your body and mind to rest. Sleep deprivation from sleep apnea and snoring can affect your mental health by contributing to irritability, stress, anxiety, and depression. Sleep specialists suggest treating sleep apnea can help improve sleep quality and mood.

• Headaches

Morning headaches can be caused by sleep apnea, loud and long snoring, or bruxism. A recent study of 268 people who habitually snored found a connection between sleep disorders like sleep apnea and frequent morning headaches.

• Pregnancy complications

Snoring and sleep apnea during the last trimester of pregnancy are common, primarily due to weight gain. Unfortunately, this snoring increases the risk of fetal complications like premature delivery.

Final Verdict

Fortunately, treating sleep apnea and chronic snoring can help lower your risk of health conditions. For example, addressing OSA-related risk factors like taking drugs, excessive weight, and poor sleep posture can help improve your sleep and overall health.

For more information about sleep apnea and chronic snoring diagnosis and treatment, contact Rifle Dental Care to schedule a consultation with our dentist in Rifle, CO.