menu
24/7 (310) 823-8911
|
ER (310) 448-5200

What are the side effects of untreated sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea, if left untreated can lead to serious short-term and long term side effects. These may include irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart diseases such as heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and driving or work-related accidents.

Obstructive sleep apnea may lead to the following health risks:

  • High blood pressure and heart diseases: Untreated sleep apnea may worsen hypertension and make it difficult to control your blood pressure even with medications. It is also a risk factor for heart attack, blood clots in the legs, and stroke.
  • Difficulty in concentrating: Sleep apnea can affect your ability to think clearly, which may lead to poor work performance.
  • Mental health conditions: Sleep apnea is associated with emotional concerns and may increase the risk of developing mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
  • Complications during surgery: Untreated sleep apnea may increase the risk of developing complications such as airway obstruction and abnormal heart rhythms during surgery.
Call 310.823.8911 Request an Appointment
Disclaimer: We do not assume responsibility for the use of the provided information or its interpretation. Our efforts are towards providing current and reliable information; however these should not be considered, or used as a substitute for diagnosis or treatment.

Source: https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Education/Medical-Library/

Meet Our Physicians

Anca Barbu, M.D., FACS

Anca Barbu

M.D., FACS

See Profile
Henry H. Chen, M.D., M.B.A.

Henry H. Chen

M.D., M.B.A.

See Profile
Allen Ho, M.D.

Allen Ho

M.D.

See Profile
Marc J. Kayem, M.D.

Marc J. Kayem

M.D.

See Profile
Matthew K. Lee, M.D.

Matthew K. Lee

M.D.

See Profile
Gene C. Liu, M.D.

Gene C. Liu

M.D.

See Profile
Jon Mallen-St. Clair, M.D., Ph.D.

Jon Mallen-St. Clair

M.D., Ph.D.

See Profile
Stephen Pincus, M.D.

Stephen Pincus

M.D.

See Profile
Abraham Tzadik, M.D.

Abraham Tzadik

M.D.

See Profile
Evan S. Walgama, M.D.

Evan S. Walgama

M.D.

See Profile
Arthur W. Wu, M.D.

Arthur W. Wu

M.D.

See Profile

Related Questions About Sleep Apnea

Surgery for sleep apnea is usually recommended only if other therapies had problems with effectiveness or were not appropriate options for a patient.

See full answer

Surgery is not the only option available to treat sleep apnea as there are conservative treatment options such as the use of positive pressure, oral appliances, and weight loss.

See full answer

Sleep apnea, if left untreated can lead to serious short-term and long term side effects. These may include irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart diseases such as heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and driving or work-related accidents.

See full answer

Snoring is the most common symptom of sleep apnea but it does not mean that everyone who snores is suffering from sleep apnea.

See full answer

Sleep apnea may lead to deadly health conditions but does not cause death by itself. This condition, in fact, proves to be fatal as a result of its interactions with other life-threatening conditions. Thus, untreated sleep apnea is more likely to lead to a stroke or heart attack.

See full answer
  • 4650 Lincoln Blvd. Marina del Rey, CA 90292
For Referring Physicians
For Medical Professionals
Joint Commission
Best of Hometown News 2013
MBSAQIP Accreditation
Hometown News “Best of” 2016
LAX Coastal Chamber Member
Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus
Copyright © 2019 Marina del Rey Hospital. All Rights Reserved.

Marina del Rey Hospital is an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Health System, 133-bed acute care Joint Commission accredited hospital offering general acute medical services and 24/7 emergency care.

This page was last updated on 10/16/2019 7:13 PM PST