Most people are aware that obstructive sleep apnea causes snoring, but there are a number of other side effects of sleep apnea. This is more than just an unpleasant problem that can keep you up at night. It’s a treatable medical condition that can significantly impact your day to day life. Here are just some of the many downsides to OSA that emphasize the importance of sleep apnea treatment.
Memory Lapses
Obstructive sleep apnea can reduce the amount of oxygen flowing to the brain. This will make it harder for the brain to process certain information throughout the day. Many sleep apnea patients find themselves nodding off at work or school because of their fatigue and restlessness. This can lead to minor memory lapses all the way up to complete gaps in your memory. With proper sleep apnea treatment, you will be able to be more alert and better prepared to face the day.
Low Energy Levels
With sleep apnea, your body has to fight all night long just to breathe. That’s why people with sleep apnea have low energy levels all day long. This can make it difficult to complete basic tasks, like going to the store, taking a walk, playing with your children or making yourself food. In general, you may feel lethargic and disinterested in what is going on around you because you simply do not have the energy to get through the situation. Once you start sleeping more soundly at night, you will find it easier to think, move around, and function as a whole.
Depression
Feeling tired all day long is bound to make a person feel gloomy. What may start off as a general sense of sadness may eventually turn into full-blown depression. When your body sleeps, your mind goes to work processing all of the emotions from the day. That’s why people often feel refreshed after a good night’s sleep. Their minds have sorted through all the information they compiled the day before and prepared a fresh slate for the new day. With sleep apnea, you will not be able to process your feelings and emotions while you sleep, which could result in depression.
Headaches
Headaches can be triggered by a number of life circumstances, from high stress levels at work to constant noise exposure from nearby construction. Sleep apnea is yet another potential cause of headaches. While you may be able to take headache medicine to temporarily relieve your symptoms, you will be even better off eliminating the source of the problem to begin with.
Continue to Part 2.
