Sleep Apnea: What You Don't Know Could Hurt You

Sleep apnea is one of the most common, yet least talked about, health conditions affecting Americans today. Those who know about it (or even have it), often regard it as a minor inconvenience or something non-serious by the majority of the public. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. Health officials have tried for years to get the public to understand the ramifications of the condition, and doctors everywhere are trying to impress upon their patients the true dangers behind the condition. Here is what you may not know about the condition. The Danger Sleep apnea poses life threatening risks to the patient in some cases. This can't be said enough, and it gives anyone suspecting that they could be suffering from the condition a good reason to get medical treatment. While death from the condition is rare, it can lead to a host of health problems that can easily, in turn, lead to a poor quality of life or even death. This includes high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke and heart attack. Even for the average person, the condition is likely to create fatigue and sleep deprivation, which is certainly not anything that is going to contribute to a greater quality of life. Treatment Most sleep apnea doctors will look first to the CPAP when it comes to treating the condition in their patients. It is one of the most popular and effective options available, although it takes some time for the patient to get used to sleeping with the machine. Essentially, the device forces pressurized air into the patient's airways, which doesn't allow their condition to choke off their lungs. In this way, they are able to get a consistent flow of oxygen throughout the night, which eliminates the effects of the condition. Of course, sleeping with one of these devices isn't the most comfortable thing in the world, which is why doctors encourage their patients to look for ways to reduce their sleep apnea in other ways while using the CPAP in the meantime. Reducing Effects While sleep apnea is not always curable, many patients can almost wholly eliminate the effects of the condition by making some lifestyle changes. Some of the biggest risk factors include being overweight and consuming alcohol. If you smoke, you may also be at greater risk for the condition. If your doctor has recommended using a CPAP machine for your treatment, you may want to consider making some lifestyle changes as well, which could potentially lead to no longer needing the use of the device down the road.