What are the long term effects of sleep apnea?

As a result, if left untreated, people may experience “poor sleep quality and progressive brain damage, induced by obstructive sleep apnea” which could lead to “poor memory, emotional problems, decreased cognitive functioning and increased cardiovascular disturbances,” according to Seung Bong Hong, PhD, MD and lead ...

What health issues can result from long term sleep apnea?

Does sleep apnea cause permanent damage?

From research conducted at UCLA over the past 12 years, experts have learned that the gasping during the night that characterizes obstructive sleep apnea can damage the brain in ways that lead to high blood pressure, depression, memory loss and anxiety.

What happens if you let sleep apnea go untreated?

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a number of health problems including hypertension, stroke, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the muscle tissue of the heart), heart failure, diabetes, obesity and heart attacks.

Does sleep apnea shorten your lifespan?

Risks of obstructive sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is dangerous because if untreated, it leads to high blood pressure and is associated with an increased chance of heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. Studies have shown that sleep apnea can decrease life expectancy by several years.

The Effects of Untreated Sleep Apnea | Katherine Green, MD, Sleep medicine | UCHealth

Does sleep apnea cause belly fat?

In women, researchers found no association between obstructive sleep apnea and visceral fat accumulation. In women, visceral fat was only associated with body-mass index.

How long can sleep apnea patients live?

The impact on life expectancy with untreated severe sleep apnea is even more profound: It roughly doubles your risk of death. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, studies have established that sleep apnea typically decreases life expectancy by several years.

What are the chances of dying from sleep apnea?

About 19 percent of participants with severe sleep apnea died (12 deaths), compared with about four percent of participants with no sleep apnea (46 deaths).

Does sleep apnea get worse with age?

Unfortunately, older adults are at higher risk of sleep apnea purely because of their age. While there is no cure or prevention for aging, there are ways for older adults to reduce their risk for sleep apnea, including: Maintaining a regular sleep schedule and avoiding too many naps.

How many apneas per hour is severe?

Obstructive sleep apnea is classified by severity: Severe obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour) Moderate obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 15 and 30. Mild obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 5 and 15.

Does sleep apnea cause dementia?

Sleep apnea is considered a risk factor for dementia. People with sleep apnea have been shown not only to have impaired memory and executive function, but also biomarker changes that are associated with Alzheimer's disease.

What foods should I avoid with sleep apnea?

Burgers, steak, pork, bacon, lamb, and sausage are all meats that are high in saturated fats. Eating too much of these items can cause inflammation throughout your body, which can lead to cardiovascular problems. This is a big risk factor if you have sleep apnea, so it's best to avoid consuming these products.

Does sleep apnea cause Alzheimers?

With regards to Alzheimer's disease, a meta-analysis of nine observational studies suggested that OSA may increase the risk of cognitive decline or Alzheimer's disease by more than two-fold, and another meta-analysis of five studies suggested the OSA is more prevalent in Alzheimer's patients [5; 6; 7].

Can sleep apnea cause brain tumors?

Having already been linked to dementia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain forms of cancer, obstructive sleep apnea is widely known as a serious medical issue. Now, a Chinese study has found that OSA may also increase a person's risk of developing brain tumors.

Does having sleep apnea affect your heart?

It's estimated that patients with sleep apnea are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) than people without this condition. Sleep apnea increases the risk of heart failure by 140% and the risk of coronary heart disease by 30%.

Is sleep apnea classed as a disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) no longer has a disability listing for sleep apnea, but it does have listings for breathing disorders, heart problems, and mental deficits. If you meet the criteria of one of the listings due to your sleep apnea, you would automatically qualify for disability benefits.

What is the best position to sleep in for sleep apnea?

Sleeping on the left side

It's by far the most effective sleep position to help control sleep apnea. It's considered to encourage blood flow, reduce snoring and calm sleep apnea. In fact, research points out that left side-sleepers experience less severe sleep apnea occurrences.

How I cured my sleep apnea?

Can you suffocate in your sleep from sleep apnea?

American Sleep Apnea Association. Yes, you can die from sleep apnea.

How many apnea events per hour is normal?

That's because it's considered normal for everyone to have up to four apneas an hour. It's also common if your AHIs vary from night to night. For some CPAP users, even higher AHIs are acceptable, depending on the severity of your sleep apnea.

Can sleep apnea cause neurological problems?

Recent papers showed the relationship between OSA and some neurological disorders, such as neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, epilepsy, and headache. OSA may accelerate the onset of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and might also represent an independent risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD).

Why is it hard to lose weight with sleep apnea?

Hormonal Changes. If you're not getting restful sleep because your airway is blocked and you have disordered breathing with obstructive sleep apnea, your body is fighting against you. The hormonal imbalance that results from poor sleep makes weight loss nearly impossible.

Will CPAP help lose weight?

However, new research suggests that CPAP therapy may also help improve weight loss for patients with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea treatment may help with sleep quality which may help improve weight loss. An estimated 60-90% of those with sleep apnea are overweight or obese.

What can I use instead of a CPAP machine?

Can untreated sleep apnea lead to dementia?

A new study by Monash University has found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to an increased risk of dementia. A new study by Monash University has found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to an increased risk of dementia.