Sleep apnea is an annoying condition that affects your quality of sleep and causes you to get insufficient oxygen at night, but is it something you should be concerned about? After all, there are more important things to worry about when it comes to your health than nighttime snoring, right? Unfortunately, this common misconception of sleep apnea as a minor nighttime annoyance couldn’t be further from the truth. If left untreated, sleep disorders can negatively impact your health and increase your risk of other diseases.
The Importance of Quality Sleep
Each night, your body recovers from the stresses of the day and renews itself through sleep. By getting quality sleep, you are protecting your physical and mental health. Quality sleep helps you pay better attention during the day and maintain a more stable mood. When you have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea, the body is not able to properly rest and heal itself each night. As a result, you are more likely to have trouble controlling your emotions, making decisions and performing regular daily responsibilities after a night of poor sleep.
Sleep Apnea and Overall Health
Ongoing sleep deficiency has been linked to a variety of scary health conditions, including:
- Kidney disease
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
In addition to increasing your risk of disease, you are less likely to be able to fight off common viruses and infections if you do not get adequate sleep at night.
Your Treatment Options
Thankfully, there are a variety of treatment options available for you if you suffer from sleep apnea. Dr. Laurence Brieterman is an experienced Wayne dentist who has diagnosed and treated many cases of sleep apnea. Depending on the type and severity of your condition, he may recommend wearing a dental device during sleep or making lifestyle changes to combat your symptoms. To schedule your appointment, call Advanced Dental Techniques today.
