Disturbed Sleep Causes
All about sleep apnea by Jean Taylor
Our lifestyle has changed dramatically over the years. We now have so many tools to make our lives easier but somehow get very little rest compared to a decade ago. An adult should get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep but how many of us actually do? Even the little sleep we manage to get tends to be the restless variety; thanks to the stress we face every day.
It’s assumed that over 30% of the American population suffers from sleep disorders during their lifetime.
Some people experience such disturbed sleep on a regular (even daily) basis and this chronic condition, when caused by the inability to breathe in the normal way, is called sleep apnea.
People suffering from this problem tend to stop breathing at repeated intervals while asleep. It is only for a short time, maybe 10 seconds or a little more, but it is enough to lead to reduced oxygen levels in your blood. Each time your breathing halts, your brain will trigger an alarm for you to wake up. So you rarely achieve that deep sleep which the body needs to repair any cell damage, prepare to fight disease and rejuvenate.
Sleep apnea can occur due to two reasons. If your air pathway is blocked, then your condition is referred to as obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. Sometimes the brain fails to stimulate a breath and this is known as central sleep apnea. OSA is considered the more common medical issue but this is out of those who have actually realized that they have a medical problem and been properly diagnosed. Many still live with sleep disorders, not realizing that they should seek treatment. It’s estimated that approximately 1 out of 20 adults suffers from OSA and this figure will only increase.
Either of the two conditions can lead to other medical problems such as heart attacks, diabetes and high blood pressure. If you are already suffering from any of these issues, sleep apnea can make it worse. This is why sleep apnea is recognized as a serious, chronic disorder and why you should bring any related symptoms to the immediate notice of your physician and your Bloomington Orthodontist.
Let’s elaborate on the effects of sleep apnea on your general health and wellbeing. If you have been suffering from sleep apnea over a long period, then you are at four times the risk of having a heart attack or a stroke compared to the average person. The likelihood of developing diabetes is three times than that for someone getting good sleep. It should be remembered that these calculations don’t take into account any other risk factors such as alcohol consumption or smoking, which can further add to the complications.
People suffering from sleep apnea also feel lethargic and drowsy most of the time, like at work, when they are supposed to concentrate. This means that your career and family life will suffer. Drowsiness will cause clumsiness on the road leading to accidents. It can also lead to depression and despair.
Insufficient rest also causes you to eat more than you normally would because your brain does not give the signal that you are full even when you had more than enough. This is a direct cause of obesity. Lack of sleep and therefore energy can also make you want to eat more, out of sheer indulgence.
Other negative impacts of OSA are menstrual problems, incontinence, impotence and gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, which affects your digestion. A recent study by the American Academy of Periodontology indicates that lack of sleep is only second to smoking when it comes to lifestyle factors affecting the status of your oral health.
About the Author
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