Sleep apnea is a serious condition where a person’s breathing is repeatedly disrupted during sleep. This disorder can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, as well as causing fatigue and overall reduced quality of life.

One of the most significant risks of sleep apnea is that it can accelerate the aging process, both physically and mentally. Fortunately, there are effective cures and treatments available for sleep apnea that can help reverse these negative effects.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes pauses or interruptions in your breathing while you sleep. These interruptions can last anywhere from a few seconds to minutes and can occur dozens of times per night.

In some cases, the individual may not even be aware of these brief episodes unless a partner notes them during the night.

There are three types of sleep apnea:.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common form of the disorder. It occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat relaxes and narrows the airway, restricting airflow.

This often causes snoring and can lead to the sleeper’s inability to breathe for up to 10 seconds at a time.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

Central Sleep Apnea is far less common and occurs when the brain fails to signal the body to breathe properly during sleep.

It differs from OSA because there is no blockage or narrowing of the airway; the body is simply not receiving the right signals to breathe.

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (CSAS)

This is also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea and develops when a person has both OSA and CSA. This can occur as a side effect of using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, the most common treatment for OSA.

It occurs when frequent awakening caused by OSA leads to CSA.

Why Sleep Apnea Accelerates Aging

As we age, our tissues, organs, and overall well-being begin to decline. At times, this decline is a natural part of getting older, and other times it is caused by underlying medical conditions.

Unfortunately, sleep apnea can exacerbate the aging process by causing changes in the body’s cells and accelerating the breakdown of the tissues.

Lack of Oxygenation

People with sleep apnea have lower oxygen levels in their blood, which can cause oxidative stress leading to the production of free radicals—the unstable molecules that can damage cell membranes and DNA.

When these molecules accumulate over time, they can lead to signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, and reduced elasticity.

Inflammation

Inflammatory agents cause organ damage, making the body lose its natural function. Sleep apnea causes chronic inflammation in the body, leading to tissue damage and greater potential for chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

Cognitive Decline

Sleep apnea has been linked to cognitive decline and memory loss, along with a decline in brain function over time.

These changes can appear more quickly and in greater severity in older individuals suffering from sleep apnea than in those without the condition.

The Cure For Sleep Apnea

The good news is that sleep apnea is treatable through a variety of methods, altering lifestyle choices, undergoing surgical interventions, and incorporating any number of non-invasive treatments.

Lifestyle Changes

Many cases of sleep apnea can be cured or improved by making simple lifestyle changes, often the first step in any course of treatment.

Lifestyle changes such as losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sleep aids, or stopping smoking help improve breathing patterns by preventing constriction of airways in the throat.

Surgery

In some cases, surgery is a necessary step for curing sleep apnea. Surgical interventions include tissue removal, alteration of the bony structure of the face, and implantation of medical devices designed to assist breathing.

These interventions are reserved for severe cases where lifestyle changes and non-invasive interventions are not effective.

Non-Invasive Treatments

Non-invasive treatments for sleep apnea include the use of night-time oral appliances, commonly known as mouthguards, to improve breathing by altering the position of the lower jaw and tongue.

Other treatments may involve devices that provide positive pressure, such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, that force air through the throat and prevent airway obstruction.

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapies, such as mouth exercises, involve the use of simple breathing workouts to strengthen the throat muscles and improve breathing patterns during sleep.

Improvised treatments may also include playing a wind instrument, which stretches the facial and tongue muscles and dilates the airways, making it easier to breathe.

Conclusion

Sleep apnea is a severe disorder that should not go untreated.

The risks of sleep apnea go beyond the fatigue and low energy that commonly occur, to a greater threat of chronic inflammation, greater potential for heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline. The impacts of sleep apnea accelerate the aging process and should not be ignored.

Fortunately, there are many treatments available—ranging from home remedies to advanced surgical techniques—that can help those with sleep apnea improve the quality of their sleep and overall health.