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Millions of Americans have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious health condition that interrupts breathing during sleep. OSA develops when the tissues in the back of the throat descend into the airway while you sleep, temporarily blocking normal airflow.
Breathing interruptions are so brief, you don’t even know they’re occurring. Despite that, apnea can seriously affect your health without proper treatment.
Richard Blackburn, DMD, MA, is skilled in sleep medicine therapies, providing personalized treatment for sleep apnea in patients at Volterra Dental. We share five major health benefits associated with tailored sleep apnea therapy.
1. Increased energy (and better performance)
Sleep apnea treatment offers plenty of benefits, but for many of us, increased energy is perhaps the benefit that’s most noticeable. Sleep apnea interrupts sleep, disrupting the quality of the sleep we get. Not surprisingly, that leaves us feeling groggy the next day.
Treating sleep apnea improves the depth and restorative value of your sleep, giving your body a chance to replenish itself and leaving you feeling more alert and refreshed in the morning. Improved energy improves your outlook and helps you perform your best at work and in other activities. Plus, it reduces your risk of errors and accidents, including accidents that cause injuries.
2. Reduced risks of heart disease and stroke
Untreated sleep apnea is associated with increased risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. That’s because all those tiny interruptions in respiration interfere with the oxygen levels in your blood, causing repeated decreases in oxygen that can take a toll on organ and vessel function.
Managing sleep apnea stabilizes oxygen levels by improving nighttime breathing. Normal breathing patterns also reduce strain on your heart muscle for improved cardiovascular health.
3. Enhanced mood and cognitive function
Most of us know how cranky and irritable after a poor night’s sleep. Because sleep apnea is chronic, irritability and moodiness can become a daily routine, eventually leading to more serious issues like anxiety and depression. Poor sleep can interfere with neurotransmitters in your brain, causing more severe emotional health issues over time.
Sleep apnea also interferes with cognitive function, taking a toll on your memory, concentration, and reasoning processes. Sleep apnea treatment supports deeper, more restorative sleep, leading to better brain function and enhanced mood.
4. Improved sex life and intimacy
When poor sleep leaves you feeling exhausted, sex is probably one of the last things on your mind, and your libido is likely to be low, too. For men, sleep apnea can lead to erectile dysfunction, as well, and the sex hormones of both genders can also be affected by poor-quality sleep.
Learning to manage sleep apnea effectively gives you the energy and the desire to improve intimacy with your partner. Plus, apnea treatment decreases snoring, making bedtime a more positive experience for both partners.
5. Improved metabolism and weight management
Sleep apnea interferes with your metabolism, too, making it harder for your body to burn calories efficiently. Many people with untreated apnea develop insulin resistance, increasing the risk of diabetes.
Poor sleep interferes with hunger hormones, leading to overeating and poor food choices. It also increases levels of cortisol, the so-called stress hormone, another factor that can contribute to gaining weight. Sleep apnea treatment helps your body maintain stable levels of hormones, including insulin, for better metabolism, better weight management, and a reduced risk of diabetes.
Manage your sleep apnea successfully
Sleep apnea is a serious problem that can lead to life-threatening consequences without proper treatment. To learn how we can help you manage your sleep apnea effectively, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Blackburn and the team at Volterra Dental in Los Alamitos, California, today.