The Long-Term Impacts of Sleep Apnea on You (And your Partner)
Have you ever wondered what sleep apnea’s impact on your health & wellbeing may be long term?
Sleep apnea is more than just snoring and waking up feeling tired; it damages your body, and can impact your partner’s health and happiness as well. Here are five long term impacts of sleep apnea to be aware of.
1. You’re not the only one getting poor sleep
Snoring is a common sign you might have sleep apnea. That’s because your airways are narrowing while you sleep. When you can’t breathe, your reflexes kick in, causing you to toss, turn, kick, and roll in your sleep. You’re not getting the rest you need, and your partner feels like they’re sleeping at a concert. So, it’s no wonder many people first investigate sleep apnea at the request of their partner. And all this can mean…
2. No more morning people
Sleep apnea can cause morning headaches (from lack of oxygen), sore throats (from snoring), and leave you exhausted. That’s because your sleep cycles were interrupted, and even though you slept, you didn’t get that deep, restful sleep your body needs. It’s like starting your favorite song over and over again, but never getting to the chorus, let alone finishing the song. And understandably, waking up tired and in pain can often cause grumpiness. Which brings us to…
3. A case of the grumps
Lack of good sleep, especially over time, can make you moody, irritable, short tempered, and even depressed. No fun for you, or your partner. And just when you thought the bad news couldn’t get worse, sleep apnea is even linked to decreased libido. But that’s not all…
4. Health problems galore
Sleep is the time for your heart to rest, but if you’re struggling to breathe, your body releases adrenaline and the stress hormone, cortisol. That puts an increased strain on your heart and vascular system. So, your risk of heart attacks, vascular disease, and strokes increase. Sleep apnea can also worsen mental health and may lead to a rise in anxiety, panic attacks and depression. That’s a lot of issues for you and your partner to deal with that can ultimately lead to...
5. Relationship Tension
Not only is your sleep, mood, and health suffering from your sleep apnea, so is your partner’s. You might do fewer outings and activities together because you are too tired. Or, if you start sleeping separately, you miss that physical closeness every night. Treating health issues caused by your sleep apnea can be expensive and anxiety inducing for both of you. And we mentioned how it can decrease your libido, right? Luckily...
This is treatable!
If sleep apnea is the root of all those problems, treating it is the solution. With good, restful sleep, you get your energy back, the strain on your physical and mental health is dramatically reduced, and your relationships improve. You can be the happier, healthier person your partner wants to sleep next to!
If you or a loved one thinks you may have sleep apnea, take our short quiz to see if getting set up with an at-home sleep test is the right next step for you.
If you are tired or exhausted do not operate a vehicle or machinery.
The information contained in this document is for educational purposes only, Sleep Apnea can only be diagnosed via a medically approved sleep study. A sleep study must be ordered and reviewed by a professional provider trained in Sleep Medicine.
GEM Sleep is focused on treatment and support of Sleep Apnea, not other sleep conditions.
Sleep apnea is more than just snoring and waking up feeling tired; it damages your body, and can impact your partner’s health and happiness as well. Here are five long term impacts of sleep apnea to be aware of.
1. You’re not the only one getting poor sleep
Snoring is a common sign you might have sleep apnea. That’s because your airways are narrowing while you sleep. When you can’t breathe, your reflexes kick in, causing you to toss, turn, kick, and roll in your sleep. You’re not getting the rest you need, and your partner feels like they’re sleeping at a concert. So, it’s no wonder many people first investigate sleep apnea at the request of their partner. And all this can mean…
2. No more morning people
Sleep apnea can cause morning headaches (from lack of oxygen), sore throats (from snoring), and leave you exhausted. That’s because your sleep cycles were interrupted, and even though you slept, you didn’t get that deep, restful sleep your body needs. It’s like starting your favorite song over and over again, but never getting to the chorus, let alone finishing the song. And understandably, waking up tired and in pain can often cause grumpiness. Which brings us to…
3. A case of the grumps
Lack of good sleep, especially over time, can make you moody, irritable, short tempered, and even depressed. No fun for you, or your partner. And just when you thought the bad news couldn’t get worse, sleep apnea is even linked to decreased libido. But that’s not all…
4. Health problems galore
Sleep is the time for your heart to rest, but if you’re struggling to breathe, your body releases adrenaline and the stress hormone, cortisol. That puts an increased strain on your heart and vascular system. So, your risk of heart attacks, vascular disease, and strokes increase. Sleep apnea can also worsen mental health and may lead to a rise in anxiety, panic attacks and depression. That’s a lot of issues for you and your partner to deal with that can ultimately lead to...
5. Relationship Tension
Not only is your sleep, mood, and health suffering from your sleep apnea, so is your partner’s. You might do fewer outings and activities together because you are too tired. Or, if you start sleeping separately, you miss that physical closeness every night. Treating health issues caused by your sleep apnea can be expensive and anxiety inducing for both of you. And we mentioned how it can decrease your libido, right? Luckily...
This is treatable!
If sleep apnea is the root of all those problems, treating it is the solution. With good, restful sleep, you get your energy back, the strain on your physical and mental health is dramatically reduced, and your relationships improve. You can be the happier, healthier person your partner wants to sleep next to!
If you or a loved one thinks you may have sleep apnea, take our short quiz to see if getting set up with an at-home sleep test is the right next step for you.
If you are tired or exhausted do not operate a vehicle or machinery.
The information contained in this document is for educational purposes only, Sleep Apnea can only be diagnosed via a medically approved sleep study. A sleep study must be ordered and reviewed by a professional provider trained in Sleep Medicine.
GEM Sleep is focused on treatment and support of Sleep Apnea, not other sleep conditions.