{"id":161,"date":"2022-10-08T17:05:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-08T17:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.powelldentalsleepsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=161"},"modified":"2023-01-03T17:08:04","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T17:08:04","slug":"sleep-apnea-and-consequences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.powelldentalsleepsolutions.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/08\/sleep-apnea-and-consequences\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Sleep Apnea Be Fatal?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Are you living with sleep apnea? Maybe you\u2019re unaware of your symptoms, or maybe you think your condition isn\u2019t that bad. The truth is that while millions of Americans are struggling to get the sleep they need as a result of snoring or an obstruction in the airway, a lack of treatment can result in serious consequences. If you\u2019re wondering whether untreated sleep apnea can be fatal, a local sleep expert is here to explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that causes an individual to experience episodes of ceased breathing while attempting to rest. There are various types of sleep apnea, but the most common is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). When a person falls asleep, the soft tissues of the mouth and throat can begin to relax, eventually collapsing on the airway and preventing oxygen from flowing freely. This causes the body to send signals to the brain to wake up. A person will then wake suddenly, often gasping for air. Because this can happen once or one hundred times each night, treatment is essential to ensure optimal mental, physical, and emotional health for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequences of Untreated Sleep Apnea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many patients living with sleep apnea do not realize they have a problem, or they do not think it\u2019s serious enough to seek professional help. However, if left untreated, sleep apnea can have devastating consequences. Some of the most common include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n