{"id":999,"date":"2023-02-02T22:05:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T22:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coloradosleepapnea.com\/blog\/?p=999"},"modified":"2023-03-08T22:08:35","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T22:08:35","slug":"can-sleep-apnea-affect-my-life-expectancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradosleepapnea.com\/blog\/can-sleep-apnea-affect-my-life-expectancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Sleep Apnea Affect My Life Expectancy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Every night, millions of patients miss out on countless hours of sleep due to sleep apnea\u2014but what\u2019s even more unfortunate is the fact that several more cases remain undiagnosed and untreated! But sleep disruption isn\u2019t the only downside to this condition; not getting enough quality sleep every night can actually lead to all sorts of issues that affect your general wellness. Some of these conditions can even impact your average life expectancy! Here\u2019s more from your sleep specialist<\/a> about sleep apnea and how it can pose a dangerous threat to your overall health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that repeatedly interrupts a person\u2019s breathing as they sleep. It\u2019s often characterized by loud snoring and leads to daytime fatigue, among other symptoms. However, obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of this condition, and it occurs when your airway becomes partially or fully blocked during sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During these episodes, your diaphragm and chest muscles must work harder than normal to keep your airway open. Needless to say, this can radically affect your ability to stay asleep, since your body needs to repeatedly wake up to restore your normal breathing pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Sleep Apnea\u2019s Impact on Life Expectancy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This fluctuation in oxygen levels caused by sleep apnea puts quite a bit of stress on the body, and over time, it can begin to take a severe toll on your health. Even just one or two nights without sufficient sleep can impede your day-to-day, and you\u2019ll experience side effects like low energy, lack of motivation, mood swings, and debilitating fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, some serious conditions that have the potential to arise due to sleep apnea include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n