You probably already know that sleep is essential for feeling your best every day and performing at your peak. But did you know that untreated sleep apnea may actually make your body age faster? Recent research shows that sleep apnea doesn’t just affect your ability to rest each night; it can also greatly impact how your body ages. However, the good news is that getting the right treatment may reverse some of that aging effect. Here’s what you need to know and why sleep apnea treatment can be life-changing.
A Brief Look at the Specifics of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing for short periods of time while you sleep. These pauses can happen dozens or even hundreds of times each night, often without you realizing it. This interrupts your sleep cycle and keeps your body from getting the deep, restorative rest it needs!
Untreated sleep apnea is known to be linked with all kinds of issues, including specifically cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. Of course, this is accompanied by several common symptoms felt on a daily basis, including things like daytime fatigue, headaches, memory problems, moodiness, and many more.
How Sleep Apnea Speeds Up Aging
A recent study from the University of Missouri School of Medicine found that people with untreated sleep apnea showed signs of accelerated biological aging. This means that their bodies were quite literally aging faster on a cellular level than those without the condition. Since poor sleep can affect your heart, brain, immune system, and other parts of you, it comes as no surprise that it can even impact your biological clock.
How Sleep Apnea Treatment Can Help
However, take heart in the fact that the same study also found that people who received treatment for sleep apnea experienced a slowing or even a reversal of that premature aging. When your body starts getting regular, quality sleep each night, your cells will recover, your energy levels will improve, and your overall health will get a boost. Not to mention, you’ll simply feel better each day, which is reason alone to seek help.
There are numerous forms of sleep apnea treatment, but what most people think of first are CPAP machines, which involve a mask worn over the face that ensures the airway is kept open and you’re fed oxygen throughout the night. They’re more comfortable and less disruptive than they sound, but many patients still prefer something easier to deal with—which is why oral appliances are now a popular alternative. These small, silent, custom-made devices fit inside your mouth and position your jaw so that proper airflow is maintained while you sleep.
If you snore loudly or experience daytime symptoms like headaches, dry mouth, memory problems, or unexplained fatigue, you could be dealing with sleep apnea—and left untreated, it could very well start to age your body! Don’t hesitate to seek professional treatment to begin turning back the clock and getting excellent rest each night.
About the Practice
Under the talented leadership of Dr. Khushboo Gandhi, our team here at Murphy Dental Home has proudly served the dental needs of patients and families in Murphy and the surrounding area for several years, offering a wide range of services, including sleep apnea treatment in the form of custom-made oral appliances. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to schedule an appointment, please reach out online or call today for more information or assistance. Telephone: (972) 532-6506.