You may already be familiar with some of the consequences of sleep apnea, such as excessive daytime sleepiness and a heightened risk for heart problems. But did you also know that it might have an effect on your body’s aging process? Researchers have found a connection between sleep apnea and accelerated aging; here’s a closer look at this link as well as what you can do about it.
What Exactly is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects tens of millions of Americans. It is characterized by your breathing repeatedly stopping and restarting while you’re asleep. The most common form of this disorder is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the airway is partially or completely blocked in some manner.
When your breathing is interrupted, your blood oxygen levels will drop, and your brain will force your body to wake up in an effort to get some air. These awakenings are brief, but they’re enough to disrupt the sleep cycle and interfere with your ability to enjoy quality slumber.
So What Does Sleep Apnea Have to Do With Aging?
A study in 2022 performed by researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine found evidence that sleep apnea can promote the acceleration of the biological aging process. Your biological age is essentially a reflection of how healthy you are in relation to your chronological age (which is just the length of time that has passed since you were born). In short, if sleep apnea isn’t treated, it can cause your body to age faster and ultimately have a detrimental effect on your overall health.
What Can You Do About the Effects of Sleep Apnea?
The good news is that accelerated biological aging can potentially be at least partially reversed if you take the right steps to address your sleep disorder. As such, it’s in your best interest to have sleep apnea treated as soon as possible.
You’ll need to have a sleep test performed so that your sleep apnea can be diagnosed. After that, you can start exploring your treatment options. If you don’t want to use a CPAP machine, you may want to consider asking your dentist for an oral appliance instead; this simple device can help you maintain an open airway during the night, thus making it less likely that your breathing will be interrupted.
It’s always better to have sleep apnea treated sooner rather than later. If you have any reason to think there’s something wrong with the quality of your sleep, you need to be proactive about dealing with it. Your body may thank you in the long run!
About the Author
Dr. David Salibian is the trusted dentist at EyeSmile Dentistry and Optometry of Belmont. He is a proud graduate of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. At his practice, he’s able to provide customized oral appliances for treating sleep apnea as well as a wide variety of dental services. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Salibian, visit his website or call (617) 484-7869.