Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?

Sleep apnea can cause more than daytime grogginess. If left unchecked, it can lead to serious cardiovascular problems and other health issues, too.

We all know breathing is important, of course. It’s so key that your body automatically does it.

At least, it’s supposed to. But if you’re dealing with sleep apnea, your system might be having difficulty getting the oxygen it needs when you’re asleep.

No surprise here: this can lead to some unwelcome symptoms. Those extend well beyond snoring at night and feeling tired during the day, too. If you leave obstructive sleep apnea unchecked, it can heighten your risk for a number of serious health consequences.

That’s why our team at LA Dentists Group offers dedicated sleep apnea diagnosis and care at our office in Glendale, California.

To help you understand just how serious sleep apnea can be, let’s look at some of the possible complications.

What happens when sleep apnea goes unchecked?

In the short term, sleep apnea causes symptoms like:

Fatigue
Morning dry mouth
Irritability
Headaches
Trouble concentrating

On top of that, if you have a bed partner, your snoring and gasping for air throughout the night probably isn’t helping their sleep.

These just sum up the immediate effects of sleep apnea, though. If you continue to get insufficient air night after night because of your sleep apnea, it can cause complications.

As your oxygen levels drop because of sleep apnea, it puts a strain on your cardiovascular system. This can cause higher blood pressure, which, in turn, can increase your risk for:

Heart attack
Stroke
Heart failure
Coronary artery disease

Beyond that, unchecked sleep apnea heightens your likelihood of dealing with:

Arrhythmia
Weight gain
Diabetes
Glaucoma
Car and work-related accidents (because of daytime drowsiness)

Long story short, if you want to protect your health, make sure you don’t let sleep apnea go unaddressed.

What to do if you have sleep apnea

If you it’s possible that you have sleep apnea, visit our team. Here at LA Dentists Group, we can evaluate your sleep to see if you’re dealing with obstructions to your breathing overnight.

If you are, we offer alternatives to the bulky continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine you might be picturing. We can tailor an oral appliance to keep your airways open while you sleep. That might mean an option like an elastic mandibular advancement (EMA) appliance or a dorsal appliance.

We develop your oral appliance to be as comfortable as possible while keeping your jaw in the right position to improve your breathing while asleep. This way, you can get the air you need to get a good night’s rest while preventing sleep apnea complications like cardiovascular problems.

If you think you might be living with sleep apnea, don’t hesitate to visit our office. Call our office or book your appointment online today.