Sleep disorders can raise your chances of experiencing high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and obesity. Sleep deprivation also can:
- Decrease performance and alertness
- Decrease memory and cognitive ability
- Reduce your quality of life
- Increase your chances of injury
One of the most common sleep disorders is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which causes your airway to narrow or close off, reducing or stopping breathing for short periods. The can make your heart work harder and affect your nervous system. OSA can lead to problems including high blood pressure and is very common in people with type 2 diabetes.
Common signs of sleep apnea include:
- Snoring
- Gasping or choking while sleeping
- Restless sleep
- Night sweats
- Inability to concentrate or focus at work
- Sleepiness while driving
- Morning headaches
- Dry mouth upon waking
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Rapid weight gain
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, please check with your doctor and discuss if a sleep study is necessary to determine if treatment is necessary.