Effects of Sleep Apnea
Effects of Sleep Apnea on Health
A person with sleep apnea stops breathing during sleep, which upsets the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. This imbalance stimulates the brain to restart the breathing process. The brain signals him to wake up so that the muscles of the tongue and throat can increase the size of the airway, which allows the carbon dioxide to escape, and oxygen to enter the airway. These waking episodes are necessary to restart breathing, but the person becomes sleep-deprived. Because of the serious disturbances in the normal sleep patterns, people with sleep apnea often feel very sleepy during the day and their concentration and daytime performance suffer. The consequences or effects of sleep apnea range from annoying to life threatening. The main effects of sleep apnea are:
- Oxygen Deprivation.
- Sleep Deprivation.
Oxygen Deprivation Effects of Sleep Apnea
When you stop breathing, your brain does not get enough oxygen. As a result drastic problems can result from the oxygen deprivation of sleep apnea like
- Rapid weight gain and obesity
- Depression
- Insomnia, restless sleep
- Headaches normally in the Morning
- Heart abnormalities such as arrhythmia, Heart disease or heart attack
- Hypertension, Stroke, and other cardiovascular system problems
- Type II Diabetes
- Poor Memory and learning difficulties, and lack of attention
- Impotence, sexual dysfunction, or reduced libido
- Premature death, such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Sleep deprivation Effects of Sleep Apnea
The sleep deprivation that is a result of sleep apnea affects both the sleeper and their bed partner. A bed partner may lose an hour of sleep each night from sleeping next to a person with sleep apnea. Some trickle-down sleep deprivation effects of sleep apnea include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Low energy
- Increased irritability
- Poor mental and emotional health
- Lack of smooth functioning of the body
- Decreased productivity
- Lack of concentration and unclear thinking,
- A compromised immune system and slower healing
- Slower reaction time
- Oxygen deprivation
Some other, milder effects of sleep apnea are:
- Frequent urination during the night
- Loud snoring
- Heartburn
- Excessive sweating during sleep
- Dry mouth in the morning
- A concave chest during sleep especially in children
If left untreated, sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes as well as academic underachievement in children and adolescents.

