7 Health Concerns That Can Result from Sleep Apnea

(Family Features) Sleep is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but sleep problems – such as sleep apnea – can hinder sleep quality and lead to other severe health complications. Sleep apnea is a serious breathing disorder that causes you to snore loudly and stop breathing up to hundreds of times a night for anywhere from 10 seconds to more than a minute. According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine(AADSM), approximately 25 million adults in the United States suffer from this disease. What many people don’t realize is that in addition to being a nuisance at night, sleep apnea also is a contributing factor to several other health problems.

If you suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from sleep apnea and could be at risk for these health complications, see a doctor to discuss your sleep problems and treatment options. In addition to the commonly prescribed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, another sleep apnea treatment is a custom-fitted oral appliance mouth piece, available from AADSM member dentists, which can be effective and often is easier to use. Once diagnosed by a doctor, visit LocalSleepDentist.org to find a dentist offering oral appliance therapy.

1. High Blood Pressure – Thirty to 40 percent of people with high blood pressure, and up to 85 percent of those who have treatment-resistant high blood pressure, have sleep apnea. Research shows that when sleep apnea is treated with oral appliance therapy, blood pressure can be reduced. Oral appliance therapy is offered by select dentists and uses a custom-fit, mouth guard-like device to support the jaw in a forward position and keep the airway open, without the need for a mask or constantly running CPAP machine.  

2. Heart Disease – A study from the University of Wisconsin found that sleep apnea is common in people who have heart disease. The study also shows that those who suffer from untreated, severe sleep apnea may be five times more likely to die from heart disease.

3. Depression – Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that men who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea are more than twice as likely to exhibit signs of clinical depression, such as feeling hopeless and uninterested in everyday activities. The study also found that women who were diagnosed with sleep apnea were five times more likely to report symptoms of major depression.

4. Erectile Dysfunction – Men with sleep apnea commonly suffer from erectile dysfunction and overall sexual dysfunction. In a study conducted in Germany, researchers found that this relationship may be due to the repetitive drop in blood oxygen levels that occurs during sleep as a result of sleep apnea.

5. Acid Reflux – It has been shown that people who have sleep apnea often suffer from acid reflux, which can increase sleep disruption and daytime sleepiness. However, treating sleep apnea can help improve the symptoms of acid reflux.

6. Diabetes – Research shows that up to 83 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes suffer from sleep apnea but are not aware of their sleep disorder. As the severity of sleep apnea increases, glucose control within the body weakens.

7. Stroke – Research shows that untreated obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk for stroke, even without the presence of other risk factors. Obstructive sleep apnea is also frequently found in people who have already suffered a stroke, which contributes to impairment of the brain’s recovery.

Photos courtesy of Fotolia

SOURCE:
American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

Goodnight, Smartphone

Powering down before bed for a good night's rest

(Family Features) Checking email or flipping through channels instead of sleeping? Playing video games or browsing social media in bed? If you want to catch some quality ZZZs, you should put down that smartphone.

The National Sleep Foundation reports nearly 90 percent of adults sleep with at least one electronic device in their bedroom. However, staring at a screen after 9 p.m. can zap your body of energy, turning you into a zombie the next day. To get a good night's rest, consider shutting off all electronics before climbing into bed.

How Electronics Affect Your Sleep

Your body functions on a 24-hour internal clock. This clock is influenced by your physical environment and daily schedule. Using electronic devices around bedtime can throw off your body clock and negatively affect your quality of sleep.

Light and darkness affect your body clock. Staring at the blue glow of electronic devices - computers, tablets, televisions, gaming systems and/or smartphones - before bedtime can trick your body into thinking it's still daytime. The artificial light sends messages to the brain to wake up and activates the body. This, in turn, can reset your body clock, delaying your normal sleep cycle.

Studies show that staring at bright screens within four hours of bedtime reduces melatonin, a hormone that makes you naturally tired when it's time to sleep. This can cause difficulty when trying to fall asleep, poor quality of sleep or sleep disorders, such as insomnia.

In the long run, problems sleeping at night can impact you during the day. Lack of proper sleep can lead to impaired focus at work, trouble remembering, fatigue, stress and even weight gain.

Get Off the Grid

It is important to get 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. To get a better night's sleep, experts recommend:

• Spending at least 30 minutes technology-free before you climb into bed.
• Reading a book or magazine in bed instead of using an electronic device.
• Making the bedroom a technology-free zone (i.e., no smartphones, tablets, laptops, TV, etc.).
• Using your bed for sleep only - this habit will create a connection in your mind between your bed and sleep.
• Putting caps over electrical outlets in the bedroom to discourage plugging in electronics to recharge.

If your smartphone is your alarm clock, set your phone to sleep mode (do not disturb function) so all calls and texts will be silenced unless it's an emergency. Be sure to put your phone face down on the nightstand so incoming messages don't wake you up.

Power down tonight and don't let your technology keep you from a good night's rest.

Find more resources to help you get a better night's rest from Guard Your Health, a health education campaign by the Army National Guard, at guardyourhealth.com.

Night Time Stimulants to Avoid

While using electronic devices is one night time distraction, here are some other common things to avoid to get a good night's rest:

• Animals
  Do not let your pets snuggle with you at night as they typically function on a different cycle than humans.
• Alcohol
  While it initially makes you drowsy, alcohol leaving the bloodstream wakes the body, interrupting your sleep cycle.
• Vitamins and supplements
  Like alcohol, taking a vitamin or supplement too close to bedtime can wake you up later - even if they knock you out initially.
• Caffeine and sugar
  Drinking coffee, soda or other sugary beverages should be avoided within four hours of bedtime, otherwise you may be too wired to sleep.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (man stretching)

SOURCE:
Army National Guard