Sleep apnea wakes up the body anywhere from two or three times to hundreds of times a night. This prevents it from going into full REM sleep and deep sleep, and by extension, constantly waking prevents the processing and rejuvenation that REM sleep provides the brain and body.
Restless sleep may seem to be a minor inconvenience at most, but the truth is that regular sleep deprivation can take a long-term toll on your body, as can the stress and tension associated with it.
Sleep Deprivation
When we sleep, we cycle through four to five different types of sleep. We start with a light rest and gradually drift deeper and deeper until we hit REM—or rapid eye movement—sleep. As we fall deeper into the stages of sleep, our brains are able to process and rejuvenate in ways that can’t happen while conscious.
This makes those deep sleep and REM stages absolutely necessary for effective rest.
In fact, most studies agree that adults need at least ninety minutes of deeper sleep per night in order to be truly rested. That makes up 16–21% of a recommended night’s sleep allotment.
The Long-Term Risks of Sleep Apnea
As a result of apnea-induced exhaustion, tension, oxygen deprivation, and insomnia, our risks increase for many different long-term health complications.
Memory Trouble| With an inability to do a reset during the night, our brains gradually get less and less able to retain information. Memory problems, both short and long-term, are a common effect of chronic exhaustion.
Weakened Immunity| Rest and recovery are vital to the immune system. Studies show that stress and overwork can severely compromise our body’s ability to fight off illness. Without deep sleep, we cannot get that needed rest time.
Trouble Concentrating| Focus is not only necessary for efficiency in doing our daily work, but for safety as well. With chronic exhaustion, our level of focus is almost constantly low, which, in turn, leads to increased stress, overwork, and even less chance to relax and reboot.
Increased Risk of Accidents| Exhaustion causes lack of focus and the potential for sudden microsleeps, but it also actively affects our ability to physically balance ourselves. Reaction times slow. Equilibrium gets thrown off. All of this leads to a significantly heightened chance of accident, whether at the workplace, at home, or on the road.
High Blood Pressure| Exhaustion has a clear link to increased stress and blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause a number of severe complications such as heart attack, stroke, blood vessel damage, metabolic syndrome, and eventually dementia.
Risk for Serious Health Complications| High blood pressure is not the only possible illness that can result from untreated sleep apnea. Untreated apnea and chronic exhaustion can also increase your risk for stroke, heart failure, irregular heart beats, heart attacks, diabetes, depression, intensifying of ADHD, and chronic headaches.
Treat Your Sleep Apnea to Prevent Health Complications!
Sleep apnea can have far-reaching consequences when it comes to your health. If you think that you may have sleep apnea or if you have had a diagnosis and need treatment, don’t hesitate to contact us!