Health Effects of Sleep Apnea

What are the consequences of having this untreated sleep disorder?

Sleep apnea is a serious issue. If you don't think so already, this should convince you: an 18-year study found that people with sleep apnea were 3 times more likely to die during the study than healthy people, from any cause¹.

That's right: sleep apnea patients die at 3x the rate of normal sleepers.

Here are just some of the health risks associated with sleep apnea.

Heart Disease

People with sleep apnea are more likely to have high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, strokes, and heart failure.
50% or more of cardiovascular patients have sleep apnea, compared to less than 5% in the overall population^2-3
In patients with heart failure, those with sleep apnea died at twice the rate of the healthy sleepers⁴
Learn more about sleep apnea and heart disease.

High Blood Pressure

Severity of sleep apnea is directly correlated to increasing blood pressure, regardless of sex, age, and other factors^5-6
37% of people with high blood pressure and 83% of people with drug-resistent hypertension have sleep apnea^7-8
People with moderate to severe sleep apnea are 3 times as likely to have high blood pressure as their healthy counterparts⁹
Learn more about sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

Stroke

65% of stroke patients have sleep apnea¹⁰
As many as 50% of strokes occur at night or within one hour of waking up--right when sleep apnea is putting the greatest strain on the body¹⁰
Stroke patients with sleep apnea have higher mortality rates and function more poorly than normal sleepers¹¹

Diabetes

Half of people with type two diabetes have sleep apnea¹²
People with mdoerate to severe sleep apnea are over twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes¹³
Sleep apnea is associated with increased glucose intolerance and insulin resistance¹⁴
Learn more about sleep apnea and diabetes.

Cognitive Damage/Dementia

People with sleep apnea experience irritability, lack of concentration, impaired memory formation, and forgetfulness
Studies have shown that grey matter concentration and the size of parts of the brain important to memory formation are decreased in patients with sleep apnea^15-16
Learn more about sleep apnea and brain damage.
People with sleep apnea experience the onset of dementia 10 years earlier than normal sleepers (at 77 versus 90 years old)¹⁷
Learn more about sleep apnea and dementia.

Sexual Dysfunction

Men with erectile dysufnction are more than twice as likely as their normal counterparts to have sleep apnea¹⁸
Sleep deprivation decreases sexual desire in women¹⁹and makes it harder to conceive²⁰
Couples where one or both partners suffer from a sleep disorder may have trouble conceiving.

Increased Risk of Accidents

People with sleep apnea are 2-3 times more likely to be in a car crash²¹
Driving while sleep-deprived is just as dangerous as driving drunk; they both double the risk of being in an accident²²
Learn more about sleep apnea and auto accidents.

The Negative Effects of Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea can damage your body, brain, and mind.

Body

The oxygen deprivation that occurs during an apnea puts serious strain on your body. The heart struggles to pump enough blood around the body, leading to heart disease and high blood pressure. Other conditions like diabetes, liver damage, and sexual dysfunction have also been connected to sleep apnea.

Brain

Oxygen deprivation and lack of sleep takes a toll on your brain. Research has shown that sleep apnea actually decreases the amount of white and gray matter in the brain. Sufferers experience decreased cognitive function and decreased memory. They are also at greater risk of developing dementia.

Mind

Sleep apnea has a mental and emotional toll. Sleep deprivation causes stress, moodiness, and irritability, which can put a strain on relationships. Studies have shown that sleep apnea is related to depression. Also, the snoring, tossing and turning, and decreased fertilty can alienate a bed partner.

Are you concerned about the negative effects of sleep apnea?

Thankfully, sleep apnea treatment can effectively prevent or even reverse some of these negative health effects. Start your treatment journey by getting tested for sleep apnea.