Reasons You Should Not Ignore Sleep Apnea

High Blood Pressure

In a few rare cases, sleep apnea can be fatal due to its connection to high blood pressure. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is extremely common amongst those experiencing sleep apnea. When sleep apnea occurs during the sleep cycle, the patient's breathing stops and their blood pressure rises. These sudden drops in blood oxygen levels increase the patient's blood pressure and put a significant strain on the body's cardiovascular system. This puts the patient at a greater risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack, which can lead to death. Research has also indicated severe sleep apnea may almost double the risk of sudden cardiac death, which proves the importance of diagnosing and effectively treating sleep apnea.

Next, find out how sleep apnea can affect a person's hormone levels.