Sleep apnea doesn't just make you tired. It affects your heart, your brain, and your long-term health.
At uNITE Sleep Centers, we help people get diagnosed quickly and accurately, because untreated sleep apnea isn't just a sleep problem. It's a health risk.
Here's what recent research and clinical experience have made clear.
How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Health
1. It Increases the Risk of High Blood Pressure
When your airway closes during sleep, your body struggles to breathe. This causes your blood pressure to spike, sometimes dozens of times each night. Over time, this can lead to chronic hypertension.
2. It Strains Your Heart
Sleep apnea increases your risk of irregular heartbeat, heart failure, and heart attack. Studies have shown that people with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to be admitted for cardiac-related emergencies.
3. It Disrupts Memory and Focus
Interrupted sleep starves your brain of oxygen. That can lead to memory problems, brain fog, trouble concentrating, and slower reaction times during the day.
4. It's Linked to Weight Gain and Diabetes
Poor sleep interferes with insulin regulation and hormone balance, which may contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
5. It Can Worsen Mood and Mental Health
People with sleep apnea often report feeling more irritable, anxious, or down. That's not just frustration - it's a real consequence of disrupted sleep and reduced oxygen to the brain.