We all know sleep is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, sleep conditions, such as sleep apnea, can hinder a person’s ability to sleep and their quality of sleep. When this occurs, other severe health conditions can arise. We’ve discussed a few before, but let’s take a look at some other conditions:

Here are some numbers for you to keep in mind. Approximately 30-40% of people with high blood pressure, and up to 85% of those with treatment-resistant high blood pressure, have sleep apnea. With those numbers, why wouldn’t you seek treatment? Research even shows that patients who receive treatment with oral appliance therapy for their sleep apnea experience reduced blood pressure.

It has been found that men with sleep apnea are more than twice as likely to exhibit signs of clinical depression. Women, too, were five times more likely to report symptoms of major depression. Wow! With those high numbers, it is important to not only get diagnosed with sleep apnea, but to receive proper treatment as well. The longer you put it off, the worse your symptoms can be.

Up to 83% of people with type 2 diabetes suffer from sleep apnea. However, they are not aware they even have sleep apnea! As the severity of sleep apnea continues to increase, glucose control within the body begins to weaken. As a result of diabetes, many people are obese, which is also the number one cause of sleep apnea. When sleep apnea is treated, it can help a person lose weight and improve their diabetes.

If you suspect you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea and could be at risk for a health complication, contact Dr. Bonnie Foster, our Warrenton dentist, for more information. With proper screening and treatment, you can take steps toward improving your health and sleep apnea.