Sleep apnea can lead to a long list of complications in other conditions (as well as its own condition). To expand on this area of the worsening of conditions, sleep apnea has an inability to regulate blood pressure. Just one bout of sleep apnea can impact your ability to regulate blood pressure—only one instance can lead to high blood pressure. So what happens when it continues to occur? It continues to get worse.
What is the connection?
Sleep apnea can result in frequent periods of decreased oxygen levels in the body. This is known as intermittent hypoxia. Just six hours of fluctuating oxygen levels associate with sleep apnea can deteriorate a person’s circulatory system. We know that sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure and can impact the cardiovascular system in one day.
As little as only six hours of fluctuating oxygen levels can lead to the body’s inability to regulate blood pressure—imagine what would happen after 8 hours. These changes occur instantly in healthy young adults–it’s not something many can prepare themselves for. For those suffering from sleep apnea, interventions should take place as soon as a diagnosis is found.
Contact Dr. Sara at Pinnacle Peak Family Dentistry in North Scottsdale for more information on sleep apnea and the steps you can take toward improving your overall health and well-being.
