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Outlook
Untreated, Sleep Apnea can increase the risk for high
blood pressure, heart
attack, stroke, obesity,
and diabetes; increase the risk for or worsen heart
failure; make irregular heartbeats more likely;
increase the chance of having work-related or driving
accidents. Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and/or breathing
devices can successfully treat Sleep Apnea
in many people.
When you're awake, throat muscles help keep your airway stiff and open so air can flow into your lungs. When you sleep, these muscles are more relaxed. Normally, the relaxed throat muscles don't stop your airway from staying open to allow air into your lungs.
But, if you have obstructive Sleep Apnea, your airways can be blocked or narrowed during sleep because:
- Your throat muscles and tongue relax more than normal.
- Your tongue and tonsils (tissue masses in the back
of your mouth) are large compared to the opening into
your windpipe.
- You're overweight.
- The extra soft fat tissue can thicken the wall of the
windpipe. This causes the inside opening to narrow and
makes it harder to keep open.
- The shape of your head and neck (bony structure) may
cause a smaller airway size in the mouth and throat
area.
- The aging process limits the ability of brain signals
to keep your throat muscles stiff during sleep. This
makes it more likely that the airway will narrow or
collapse.
- Not enough air flows into your lungs when your airways
are fully or partly blocked during sleep. This can cause
loud snoring and a drop in your blood oxygen levels.
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