Burke, Fairfax and Fairfax Station, VA
At the office of Dr. Pamela Marzban, we are concerned about our patients’ health, not just their teeth. That’s why we offer care for a wide range of health issues that may impact our patients health.
The good news about sleep apnea is that it’s easy to diagnose and easy to treat effectively. Although it’s a dangerous condition, treatment can reduce or eliminate these dangers. The bad news is that most people who have it don’t know they have it. That’s because sleep apnea is not very well known, and even fewer people understand the risk and realize that they should talk to their doctor about it. Many people think it’s just snoring, and dismiss it as a joke.
That’s why we’re sharing this infographic on the risks of sleep apnea. By comparing the risks of sleep apnea with hypertension, we hope to get people to talk to their doctors about sleep apnea.
Why Hypertension
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a condition that everyone knows about and takes seriously. At every doctor’s appointment, your blood pressure is taken. And if your blood pressure is at all high, you’ve probably been counseled about approaches you can take to bring it down.
Blood pressure medications are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the country, although only about half of people with high blood pressure have it under control. As a result, high blood pressure contributes to more than 1000 deaths each day in the US. That is a deadly condition that is certainly worth paying attention to and treating.
But so is sleep apnea, and that’s why we wanted to compare the risks of the two conditions.
Overlapping Risks
One of the most striking things about the comparison between sleep apnea and hypertension is how similar their risks are. The risks of the two conditions are virtually identical.
For example, both conditions stress your heart and can lead to an increase in your risk of heart disease. You may experience chest pain (angina), heart attack, or deadly heart failure as a result of untreated high blood pressure or sleep apnea.
Both conditions also contribute to your stroke risk. Stroke occurs when the blood vessels in the brain get closed, cutting off the blood supply to the brain. High blood pressure increases the risk of two different types of stroke. In ischemic stroke, a blood clot or other clog gets lodged in the brain, stopping the flow of blood. In hemorrhagic stroke, a fragile blood vessel in the brain breaks, causing blood to pool in the brain. This puts pressure on the brain and closes the blood vessels.
Both conditions can also put your vision at risk. This can be related to elevated pressure inside the eye, known as glaucoma, which can damage the optic nerve. Or it may be related to the damage and regrowth of blood vessels in the retina–the area of the eye that detects light.
This is just the beginning of the dangers related to these conditions–virtually every system in the body is put at risk. .Look at the infographic to see what else is impacted.
Pass on the Information
If you know someone who is at risk for sleep apnea, make sure they understand the potential dangers they face. And if you are at risk for sleep apnea, maybe it’s time to talk to your doctor about the condition.
If you’ve been prescribed CPAP for sleep apnea treatment but can’t seem to use it, we can help. It’s vital that you get treatment that work in order to protect yourself from risks. To learn more about a comfortable, convenient alternative to CPAP in Fairfax County, VA, please call 703-323-8200 today for an appointment at the office of sleep dentist Dr. Marzban in Burke, VA.
