Snoring may just seem like a mere nuisance, but it can be something more serious. Obstructive sleep apnea is often directly related to snoring. It increases risks for a variety of health issues, and left untreated, can lead to serious danger. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be treated or even cured fairly easily by a dentist in Greenville, NC.
Type 2 Diabetes
Of the people with Type 2 diabetes, close to 80% of them also suffer from sleep apnea. Obesity can increase risks for both apnea and diabetes. If you don’t sleep well, your body can’t make insulin properly, which can eventually lead to diabetes.
Weight Gain
Those who are overweight often deal with blocked breathing from fatty deposits in the neck. Sleep apnea can also make you feel tired and exhausted all day, with little motivation to exercise. When apnea is treated correctly, you have more energy to get through your everyday tasks, which causes weight loss, which in turn may improve apnea.
High Blood Pressure
Waking up in the night can stress your body out, causing your hormone systems to go into panic mode and boost your blood pressure. When you can’t breathe well, the blood has less oxygen, which compounds the issue.
Heart Disease
Those who deal with obstructive sleep apnea are at an increased risks for a heart attack. This can come from the stress of waking up often or the low oxygen in the blood. Because sleep apnea disrupts the intake of oxygen, it is difficult for your brain to control the flow to the arteries.
Treating Your Problems
While ignoring sleep apnea can lead to serious health risks and dangers for your body, treatment is non-invasive and fairly easy to get. Call our office today at (252) 391-9333 to schedule an appointment to improve your quality of sleep and your overall health.