Sleep Apnea Side Effects
Leaving sleep apnea untreated can lead to sleep apnea side effects. Some of them can be dangerous, while others just make your life more difficult and less comfortable. Dr. Lesko wants to help her patients avoid the uncomfortable side effects of sleep apnea by diagnosing and comfortably treating their sleep apnea or other oral health concerns.
Sleep Apnea Side Effects
Sleep apnea side effects can be quite serious. There are many interconnected health issues that can be worsened or caused by sleep apnea. Some side effects or issues of sleep apnea include:
- Increased risk of stroke
- Asthma or increased symptoms of asthma
- High blood pressure
- Grogginess, irritability, and fatigue
- Changes in metabolism
- Increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues
There are even connections between sleep apnea and Alzheimer’s or dementia. The longer you live with sleep apnea, and the worse your sleep apnea gets, the higher the chance there will be that it will affect your overall health.
Sleep Apnea and Diabetes
Sleep apnea and diabetes are one of the more commonly connected health issues when it comes to sleep apnea.
Diabetes can make it more likely for you to suffer from sleep apnea because it is connected to your weight, as well as your overall health. If you are struggling with diabetes, we recommend that you look out for the symptoms of sleep apnea as well.
Sleep apnea can also make diabetes more likely, as poor sleep can disrupt your metabolic system, preventing the proper amount of insulin from being produced. Metabolic disruption can also lead to weight gain, which contributes to a higher risk of diabetes and worsens your sleep apnea.
Treating your sleep apnea early and managing your diet can help reduce the risk of diabetes. Our team is here to help you live your healthiest life!
Health Problems Due to Sleep Apnea
The team at Sleep Better Fort Collins works hard to prevent health problems due to sleep apnea. If we notice that your sleep apnea side effects are severe or are contributing to health issues, we will recommend that you to your primary care doctor or a specialist.
Treating your sleep apnea as soon as you notice sleep apnea symptoms is essential. If it is treated early, health problems due to sleep apnea can be mitigated or may never even start.
Do I Have Sleep Apnea?
The best way to know if you have sleep apnea is to contact Dr. Lesko for an evaluation. She will conduct an exam, ask about your health history, and recommend next steps. If she thinks you may have sleep apnea, she will recommend a sleep apnea home test.
Sleep Apnea Home Test
Many times, when you have sleep apnea, doctors will ask that you come in for a test where you sleep in a bed at a sleep center overnight. However, these sleep center tests may not answer your question of “do I have sleep apnea?” The tests are not always comfortable, and they include a lot of monitors. This style of test can cause a bad night of sleep and give inaccurate results, since your environment is different and you may not be comfortable.
On the other hand, an at-home sleep test can use a variety of things, such as a ring, a pulse oximeter, or other easy monitoring devices. These devices track your heart rate to see if it spikes, and some also track your REM cycles.
Your dentist cannot formally diagnose sleep apnea, but we can provide you with diagnostic tests and refer you to a sleep doctor for a diagnosis. Once we have results from a sleep test, we can begin treatment with oral mouth guards and myofunctional therapy.
Start Managing Your Sleep Apnea Today
Managing your sleep apnea quickly can help you avoid sleep apnea side effects. Our team at Sleep Better Fort Collins is here for you. If you’re wondering, “do I have sleep apnea?” call us or schedule a consultation so we can help you prevent health problems due to sleep apnea.
