Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes people to rapidly stop and start breathing again during sleep. If your family complains of your snoring, you feel like you wake up abruptly and are short of breath or you are tired despite a supposed full night of sleep, you may be suffering from apnea. A person may suffer from obstructive apnea, which causes throat muscles to relax, central apnea, which means the brain does not send the right signals to the muscles, or both forms at once. Left untreated, apnea can cause serious health issues.
Daytime Tiredness
Severe daytime fatigue can cause serious issues. Most commonly, depression and a lack of productivity at work occur. However, it may also cause anger issues or accidents on the road or in the workplace.
Type 2 Diabetes and Liver Problems
People who suffer from sleep apnea in Fishers, IN are more likely to develop insulin resistance that results in type 2 diabetes. They are also more likely to have abnormal liver function, including scarring that is known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Metabolic Syndrome
Symptoms of metabolic syndrome are common in sleep apnea patients. They include high blood pressure, heart disease, high blood sugar and a larger waist. These issues occur because the blood oxygen levels drop during sleep and strain the cardiovascular system.
Medical Complications
People who need to undergo general anesthesia or take other sedating medications may have more serious breathing problems, especially if laying on their backs during surgery. Patients must be diligent in telling doctors and surgeons about any sleep issues they have before treatment.
Sleep apnea can even cause sleep deprivation, depression and other symptoms in partners who share beds with sufferers. Luckily, there are solutions. Most commonly, treatment includes a mouthguard or CPAP machine that helps sufferers breathe properly during the night. We treat apnea at Dentistry of Fishers. Contact us today at (317) 565-4875 or online to learn how our Fishers, IN dentist, Dr. Jeremy Jones can help you get a full night’s sleep again.