Sleep Apnea Complications
Sleep apnea may increase your risk of the following disorders:
- Asthma
- Atrial fibrillation
- Cancers, such as pancreatic, renal, and skin cancers
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cognitive and behavioral disorders, such asdecreases in attention, vigilance, concentration, motor skills, and verbal and visuospatial memory, as well as dementia in older adults. In children, sleep apnea has been associated with learning disabilities.
- Diseases of the heart and blood vessels, such as atherosclerosis, heart attacks, heart failure, difficult-to-control high blood pressure, and stroke
- Eye disorders, such as glaucoma, dry eye, or keratoconus
- Metabolic disorders, including glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes
- Pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and gestational high blood pressure, as well as having a baby with low birth weight
Did you know that sleep apnea can cause inflammation and lead to complications?
When blood oxygen levels drop due to obstructive sleep apnea, your body and brain trigger the “fight or flight” response. This increases your blood pressure and heart rate and wakes you from sleep so that your upper airway can open. These cycles of decreased and increased blood oxygen levels can cause inflammation that may contribute to atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in blood vessels, which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Chronic inflammation can also damage the pancreas and lead to type 2 diabetes.
Look for
– Sleep Apnea – Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
- Diagnosis will explain tests and procedures used to detect signs of sleep apnea and help rule our other conditions that may resemble sleep apnea.
- Treatment will discuss treatment-related complications or side effects of the treatment for sleep apnea.
Syndicated Content Details:
Source URL: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/subscribe/4231
Source Agency: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)