Health Consequences of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

What happens if OSA is not treated?

People with OSA have disrupted sleep resulting in low oxygen levels. Both awakenings and oxygen deprivation can trigger severe health problems and decrease quality of life due to OSA’s links with:

• Chronic sleepiness (Excessive Daytime Sleepiness-EDS).
• Increased Motor Vehicle Accidents (People with OSA have three times a higher automobile accident or work-related accident than those in the general public).
• Increased work-related accidents.
• Poor job performance.
• Depression.
• Family discord (Loud snoring also disrupts the bed partner’s sleep causing frustration and anger in their relationship.)
• Decreased quality of life.
• Strokes.
• High blood pressure.
• Decreased sex drive.
• Nocturia (a need to use bathroom frequently at night).
• Morning headache.
• Systemic Hypertension
• Cardiac Arythmias
• Myocardial Ischemia
• Cerebrovascular Disease
• Pulmonary Hypertension