Sleep apnea occurs when your airways become blocked or collapse during the night. Each time your breathing resumes, you may snore loudly, waking you and your bed partner.
Many health conditions are associated with sleep apnea, including obesity and high blood pressure. These conditions, combined with lack of sleep, can damage many different systems in your body.
respiratory system
By depriving the body of oxygen while sleeping, sleep apnea can worsen the symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). You may find that you are short of breath or have a harder time exercising than usual.
Endocrine System
People with sleep apnea are more likely to develop insulin resistance, a condition in which cells do not respond well to the hormone insulin. When your cells don't absorb insulin as well as they should, your blood sugar levels rise and you may develop type 2 diabetes.
Sleep apnea is also associated with metabolic syndrome, a group of heart disease risk factors that include high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol levels, high blood sugar levels and a larger-than-normal waist circumference.
digestive system
If you have sleep apnea, you are more likely to develop fatty liver disease, liver scarring, and higher than normal levels of liver enzymes.
Apnea can also worsen heartburn and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can interfere with your sleep even more.
Circulatory and cardiovascular systems
Sleep apnea is associated with obesity and high blood pressure, which can increase stress on the heart. If you have apnea, you are more likely to develop a heart rhythm disorder such as atrial fibrillation, which may increase your risk of stroke. Heart failure is also more common in people with sleep apnea.
nervous system
A type of sleep apnea called central sleep apnea is caused by a disruption in the brain's signals that allow you to breathe. This type of sleep apnea can also cause neurological symptoms such as numbness and tingling.
