You may think that snoring or sleep apnea should not be at the top of your treatment list. However, it is important to make the treatment of your sleep apnea a top priority. Why? Let’s take a look at 5 negative effects that sleep apnea can have on your oral and overall health when treatment is not attempted.
A Depression Link. Depression is not something that should be ignored, nor should people think it would simply go away with time. The relationship between sleep and depression is complex, but it is very apparent. It has been shown that depression may cause sleep problems and sleep problems may cause or contribute to depression.
For some people depression symptoms occur before the onset of sleep complications, but for others sleep problems appear first. Either way, sleep problems are associated with more severe depression.
The Worsening of ADHD. Not everyone with sleep apnea has ADHD, just like not everyone with ADHD has sleep apnea, but it can be possible. Large tonsils and adenoids can partially block the airway at night, which can cause snoring and poor sleep. In turn that may lead to attention problems during the day, as well as daytime sleepiness.
Untreated sleep apnea may also be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, and academic underachievement in children and adolescents. So, at the end of the day, if you suffer from sleep apnea or are experiencing symptoms that you believe are indicators of sleep apnea, it is important to seek treatment immediately.
Contact our Warrenton dentist, Dr. Bonnie Foster, to learn more about sleep apnea and how untreated sleep apnea can be detrimental to your health.