What can sleep apnea cause?

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder which causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly in sleep. The incident happens as a number of spells during sleep. If you feel drowsy, tired and sleepy after waking up in the morning, you might have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs most commonly in males, postmenopausal women, the obese, and people with large necks. Anyone can get sleep apnea. The two types of sleep apnea include Central and Obstructive sleep apnea.  Obstructive sleep apnea occurs mainly due to obesity. When the muscles that support the soft palate and the uvula, relax too much, the airway gets narrowed or closed and causes inadequate breathing. The impaired or interrupted breathing is detected by the brain and briefly rouses the patient to restore normal breathing. In obese people, fat deposition present in the upper airway can also obstruct breathing. Loud snoring, breathing spells, mouth breathing, gasping, dryness of mouth, sleep deprivation are some of the symptoms of sleep apnea. Obese people, when they lie down, their lungs get pushed up and congested which prevents the lungs to absorb the required volume of oxygen. When this happens, the body and the brain is deprived of oxygen and a build-up of Co2 starts. This causes sleep deprivations.  Sleep deprivation can cause drowsiness, irritable mood, inability to concentrate, impaired memory, reduced physical strength, reduced immunity, etc. Sleep deprivation also promotes people to sleep in a sitting position which can occur at work, or during study or even while driving a car. 

Studies have shown than sleep apnea is associated with obesity and is one of the co-morbidity. This means that being obese can increase your risk of getting sleep apnea. If you are severely obese and you suffer from spells of sleep apnea related incidents, bariatric surgery can help. The weight loss in bariatric surgery can reduce the occurrence of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is also associated with heart diseases and high blood pressure both of which can also be improved by bariatric surgery followed by a healthy lifestyle.

Sleep apnea can cause weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, heart problem, sudden death in sleep. None of the diseases mentioned will come to control while they have sleep apnea. Children can also get sleep apnea. 

Call Springfield Wellness Centre and get to know the various types of bariatric surgeries available. Springfield Wellness Centre under the aegis of Dr. Maran offers best bariatric surgery in Chennai.