Speeding Through Time: How Sleep Apnea Makes You Age Faster

Nobody wants to age any faster than they have to, but according to a study released by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep apnea does exactly that. What does this mean, and better yet, what can you do to prevent this from happening to you or your partner?

How Sleep Apnea Ages You

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes someone to frequently and repeatedly stop breathing throughout the night.  This not only lowers the quality of sleep, but it’s also extremely stressful for the body. Sleep is when your mind and body recover and rebuild, so without enough, everything starts to slowly break down. The result is that people tend to develop conditions associated with natural aging much earlier, such as:

• Heart attack/stroke
• High blood pressure
• Memory problems
• Falling asleep in random places
• Consistent dark circles under the eyes
• Accelerated weight gain
• Painful/stiff joints
• Sexual dysfunction

Know the Signs

The first step in treating sleep apnea is recognizing that you or a partner might have it. This is harder than it sounds—around 80% of cases are undiagnosed! Unsurprisingly, this stems from many symptoms occurring while someone is asleep, but there are a few telltale signs to look out for:

• Loud, chronic snoring
• Pauses in breathing during sleep
• Waking up gasping or feeling out of breath
• Morning headaches/sore throat
• Persistent daytime exhaustion

How to Get Help for Sleep Apnea

While lifestyle changes such as quitting tobacco, reducing alcohol consumption, and losing weight have all been shown to help reduce sleep apnea symptoms, these tasks aren’t exactly easy and take a lot of time. For the sake of someone’s health and quality of life right now, professional treatment is a must. Often, it can come from an unexpected source—the dentist.

Sleep dentists can perform screenings, organize sleep tests, and even provide custom mouthguards that enable someone to breathe normally and get the great rest they need night after night. This approach is more comfortable and customized compared to traditional CPAP therapy, and it has helped millions of people finally sleep and slow down Father Time.

Aging is a natural part of life, but there’s no rush! If you or your partner are struggling with sleep apnea, connecting with a sleep dentist might be the first step toward adding many more healthy years in which to make memories.

About the Author

Dr. David M. Weinman received his DMD from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine and has proudly served patients and families in Westfield for several years. He’s able to provide custom oral appliances for people dealing with sleep apnea as well as snoring. If you have any questions about the blog or would like to schedule a visit for you or a loved one, feel free to contact our practice online or over the phone at (908) 654-7200.