5 Benefits of Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea

If you’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you might be hesitant to seek treatment because you’re worried about what that might look like for you or how it might disrupt your life. As it turns out, not treating your obstructive sleep apnea can be far more disruptive. In fact, untreated OSA can lead to debilitating diseases and early death. Here are five benefits to treating your .

1.      Reduce Your Risk of Getting Diabetes

Multiple studies have tied sleep apnea to an increased risk in developing Type 2 diabetes. For those who already have the disease, untreated apnea makes it more difficult to manage blood glucose levels. A new study out of The Ohio State University has determined a direct connection between cortisol levels, which rise with stress, and blood glucose levels, which leads us to the second benefit of treating obstructive sleep apnea.

2.      Improve Stress Management

Treating OSA results in lower levels of stress, better cognitive function, and more energy to get through the day. This can make you more productive at work, more aware of your surroundings, and more capable of concentrating.

3.      Improved Relationship with Your Partner

Snoring is a leading cause of divorce. Most people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea snore loudly. It’s not only their own sleep that gets disrupted but also their partner’s. Over time this can to disharmony in your relationship as you both struggle to navigate days filled with stress, sleepiness, and frustration.

4.      Reduced Risk of Depression

Disrupted sleep can result in significant increases in rates of depression. For anyone, with or without sleep apnea, sleep disruption can cause an elevated risk of depression, but for people with obstructive sleep apnea, who awaken 50-100 times a night, the risk of developing depression is 2.5 times higher.

5.      Heart Health

Perhaps the most convincing argument for seeking treatment for your obstructive sleep apnea Is that without treatment you increase your risk of death. People who have disrupted sleep are 3-4 times more likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. The risk of stroke also increases dramatically with untreated OSA. And the overall risk of dying is several times higher for people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea.

Lakeside Allergy ENT is home to three board-certified otolaryngologists and sleep specialists who specialize in diagnosis and treatment of all ear, nose, and throat related disorders, including chronic snoring and sleep apnea. Snoring and sleep apnea treatment requires expert care. If you have any of the symptoms of a sleep disorder, call our office at 972-771-5443 or get started by requesting an appointment using the form on this page.