Effects of sleep disorders include, but are not limited to;
- Immune system depression
- Mental Depression
- Anxiety
- Difficulty thinking
- Loss of sex drive
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
Once you have completed an overnight sleep study and you are found to have sleep apnea, you are prescribed a machine that helps alleviate the symptoms of apnea. The type machine and the settings on the machine are crucial to your health, and you will need to have follow-up visits with the Board Certified sleep doctor.
When diagnosed with sleep apnea, that means that when you go to sleep, your nose and throat passages close off and decrease your air flow. With decreased air flow, there are important points for you to remember.
- This increases the load on your cardiovascular system.
- As a result, high levels of cortisone- and adrenaline-type hormones are flushed into your system.
Because of this, we find the following in sleep apnea patients:
- Strokes are 4 times more likely
- Heart attacks are three times more likely
- Cancer is twice as likely
- High blood pressure is twice as likely
Sleep apnea patients also have twice the likelihood of diabetes. It reduces testosterone and growth hormone levels, which lead to lack of libido and loss of general stamina.
The use of a CPAP machine helps reduce the potential for, or improve symptoms of these diagnoses. If you choose not to use the prescribed CPAP, you are advised that you should not drive or operate dangerous equipment.
If you have questions or want to be evaluated, please call us at 662-453-6177 to set up an appointment.