Everyone has been sleep deprived at one time or another, whether you were studying all night while in school or felt nervous about a big work presentation the next day. For people with sleep apnea, losing out on their much-needed rest isn’t just about being exhausted—it could actively be shortening their lives. How can a sleep condition gravely affect your life expectancy? More importantly, what should you do about it?
Can Sleep Apnea Be Fatal?
To date, there are no reported instances of someone dying due to sleep apnea. While that’s good to hear if you or a loved one is struggling with it, it’s important to point out that sleep apnea is associated with a dramatically increased risk of things that often do have fatal consequences.
Heart Attack & Stroke
A quick search online will reveal that over 50,000 cardiovascular-related deaths in the U.S. are connected to sleep apnea. Why is this the case?
With sleep apnea, a person stops breathing for short periods several times throughout the night—up to 100 episodes an hour in severe cases!
This not only disrupts the sleep cycle, but also causes blood pressure to skyrocket because the body is in panic mode. It detects that there is no more oxygen coming in, so it goes into overdrive moving the limited amount of oxygenated blood around the body.
As a result, a person can become hypertensive. This can last well after normal breathing is restored and even while someone is awake. Persistently high blood pressure is the leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke. In fact, studies have consistently shown that sleep apnea increases the risk of a cardiovascular event by about 20-30%.
Motor Vehicle/Workplace Accidents
A sleep-deprived driver is 300% more likely to have an accident…this is a higher chance of being in a wreck compared to driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol!
“Drowsy driving” is a serious concern, but especially for people with sleep apnea. Not only can it make someone unsafe on the road, but it can also spell trouble for those who operate heavy machinery or work in dangerous environments (construction sites, oil rigs, manufacturing plants, etc.)
Add Years to Your Life
Fortunately, sleep apnea is very treatable, and you have a multitude of options. The most commonly prescribed treatment is CPAP therapy, and more patients are opting for custom-made oral appliances they wear to bed.
More recently, dentists have used lasers to open the airway by tightening the tissues of the throat and mouth, addressing the root source of the problem for many.
With sleep apnea, you might not just be missing out on restful nights, but years of your life. But you can be proactive, taking control of the condition and giving yourself a brighter, healthier future to look forward to.
About the Practice
At Bio Dental, Drs. Candida Castillo and Keisi Ikonomi are proud to provide holistic dental services to the North Providence community. Our practice offers a range of treatments, including laser-based therapy for sleep apnea/snoring. If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), snore every night, or are simply concerned about the quality of your nightly rest, our team can perform a screening and advise you on your next steps.
Contact our office today at 401-232-7777 or click here to schedule an appointment.