Side Effects Of Sleep Apnea

The constant waking episodes experienced by obstructive sleep apnea patients make normal, restorative sleep impossible.

Thus these patients will endure severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability.

Their concentration and memory will be poor, and often they will drop off to sleep as soon as they sit down to a quiet task or to rest, watch television, or even drive.

Work- and traffic-related accidents are more common.

Poor work performance for adults is often a side effect of sleep apnea, and poor school results for children and young people are predictable and may end in behavioral and development problems like ADD or ADHD symptoms.

Another one of the side effects of sleep apnea is the loud snoring which can keep sleep-deprived partners from getting good rest and eventually disrupt your relationships.

It's not uncommon for a partner to choose to sleep in another room. Many bed partners of people who snore are sleep-deprived as well.

People with obstructive sleep apnea may also complain of morning headaches, and a need to urinate frequently at night (nocturia).

A negative mood and depression, low energy and sex drive are a result of the constant fatigue.

Oxygen starvation especially can have a long-term effect on the body and brain, leading to impaired function and abilities.

Obstructive sleep apnea also is a concern with certain medications and general anesthesia.

If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you may be more likely to experience complications after major surgery because you're prone to breathing problems, especially when sedated and lying on your back.

Before you have surgery, tell your doctor if you have obstructive sleep apnea. I took my CPAP machine into the theatre with me.

Some researchers have found a connection between obstructive sleep apnea and certain eye conditions, such as glaucoma and optic nerve swelling (papilledema).

Successful treatment of the sleep disorder usually resolves the eye condition, as well.

Cardiovascular problems. Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that happen during obstructive sleep apnea episodes increase blood pressure and put a strain the cardiovascular system.

Many people develop high blood pressure (hypertension) as a side effect of sleep apnea, which raises the risk of heart failure and stroke.

The more severe the obstructive sleep apnea, the greater the risk of high blood pressure.

People with obstructive sleep apnea are much more likely to develop abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation.

If there's underlying heart disease, these repeated multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) could lead to sudden death from a cardiac event.

Summary: Side effects of Sleep Apnea can include: Oxygen starvation; Hypertension; Sleep deprivation, which can seem like narcolepsy, insomnia; Inattentiveness, leading to accidents and mishaps; In children, ADD or ADHD symptoms; Stroke; Heart failure; Diabetes; Kidney failure; Metabolic stress etc.

Side effects of obstructive sleep apnea can be alleviated by treatment, restoring alertness and improving quality of life.

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