You already know that sleep apnea is a detrimental condition but you might not know just how detrimental it can be. We’re going to go over a few of the potential health issues that you may never have considered, and eventually, you may come to realize just how necessary sleep apnea testing is.

High Blood Pressure – The Most Common Side Effect

For this exercise let’s say that you already have high blood pressure, which is a detrimental condition in and of itself. Sleep apnea can elevate this problem; when you are waking up often throughout the night your body will become stressed which causes heightened hormone levels. This causes your blood pressure levels to rise and the oxygen level in your blood will drop. Fortunately, a sleep apnea home test can lead to proper treatment which allows blood pressure to improve. This also allows an individual’s doctors to cut back on BP medications.

Heart Disease and OSA

Those who have OSA and have not undergone testing for sleep apnea to ensure that correct treatment stands a higher chance of suffering heart attacks. They may also suffer from strokes and atrial fibrillation, all a side effect of low oxygen. Also, keep in mind that these can be caused by the stress of waking up regularly. Remember: sleep apnea changes the way your body takes in oxygen, and as such, your brain will have difficulty controlling how it flow throughout your body. This can easily lead to rather detrimental conditions, up to and including heart disease. That being said, if you suspect yourself of having sleep apnea, you should see a doctor immediately and arrange for an at home sleep study.

The Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Due to sleep apnea, there is a significant risk of contracting type 2 diabetes, and it is a common issue among those with OSA. Statistically, we’ve seen 80% or more of Type 2 Diabetes sufferers exhibiting signs of OSA, and while the definitive link has not quite been found, yet, your body using insulin incorrectly is one of the categories that will contribute.

Obesity and Weight Gain

Being overweight is a common problem within the United States and unsurprisingly it leads to a ton of other issues. Weight gain is a side effect of OSA and CSA both. But it also is a prime cause of sleep apnea. In other words, those who are already obese stand a better chance of ending up with sleep apnea, putting themselves at serious risk.

The conditions that we have mentioned here today are serious problems and they need to be addressed as quickly as possible. Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to these and many other health problems in the future, which creates a very uncertain health situation for the affected individual. That being said, it should be no surprise to anyone that home sleep apnea testing is an absolute necessity, and that follow up appointments are equally critical. Once the right diagnosis is made, a CPAP or APAP machine can be issued, potentially saving the patient’s life. If you feel that you are suffering from sleep apnea, then now would be an outstanding time to contact your physician and make sure you’re scheduled for sleep apnea testing using a sleep apnea watch or any of the other implements that can allow you to take the test from home. Relief is right around the corner; you just have to be willing to take the first step.

VirtuOx is the leader in home sleep tests and pulse oximetry.