Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous? What Untreated Sleep Apnea Can Do
This page is general information. It is not medical advice. Talk to your clinician about your own health. If you have chest pain, signs of a stroke or severe trouble breathing, call 911 or go to an emergency room.
It can be, when it is not treated. NHLBI says untreated sleep apnea raises the risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke, and links it to diabetes, kidney disease and other problems. It also makes drowsy driving more likely. The good news is that it is treatable, and getting tested is the first step.
At a glance.
- Short term, poor sleep hurts focus, memory and mood.
- Long term, it is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
- Drowsy driving is a real and immediate safety risk.
- Tell any surgeon or anesthesia team that you have sleep apnea.
What Happens During the Night
In obstructive sleep apnea, NHLBI says the upper airway becomes blocked many times while you sleep. Breathing stops and starts. Each pause pulls you partway out of deep sleep, often without you knowing. So even a full night in bed can leave you short on real rest. That broken sleep is behind many of the problems below.
The Day After. Focus, Memory and Mood
NHLBI says sleep apnea keeps you from getting enough rest, which can cause problems with concentrating, remembering things, making decisions or controlling your behavior. People often blame age, stress or a busy life. If you sleep enough hours and still wake up tired most days, it is worth asking a clinician why.
Drowsy Driving
This is the risk that can hurt someone today. NHLBI says untreated sleep apnea can make it hard to pay attention and make decisions while driving, and advises not to drive if you feel tired or sleepy. Cleveland Clinic warns about very short sleep episodes during the day, sometimes called microsleeps, that can lead to accidents.
If you have nodded off at the wheel, even once, treat that as a reason to call a clinician this week, not someday. Pull over when you feel drowsy. Let someone else drive until you are treated.
Heart and Blood Pressure
NHLBI lists heart attack, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and stroke among the risks of untreated sleep apnea. Cleveland Clinic lists high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation, and heart failure among the complications.
If you already have high blood pressure or a heart condition, ask your doctor whether you should be checked for sleep apnea. If you already have sleep apnea, make sure your heart doctor knows.
Other Health Problems Linked to It
NHLBI also connects untreated sleep apnea with a wider list.
- Diabetes and metabolic syndrome
- Kidney disease
- Dementia
- Some eye conditions
- Problems during pregnancy
- Some cancers
Linked does not mean sleep apnea causes every one of these in every person. It means the risk is higher. That is reason enough to get tested if you have the signs.
Surgery and Anesthesia
NHLBI says sleep apnea can raise the risk of complications during surgery, and that your care team may need to take extra steps to keep your airway open. Always tell your surgeon and anesthesia team that you have sleep apnea, or that you think you might. If you use CPAP, ask whether to bring your machine to the hospital.
Is It Ever an Emergency?
Sleep apnea itself is usually a long term problem, not a 911 problem. But some symptoms are emergencies no matter the cause. Chest pain, signs of a stroke like face drooping or arm weakness, or severe trouble breathing mean you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Treatment Changes the Picture
Most of the risks above are about untreated sleep apnea. NHLBI says a PAP machine is the most common treatment. Oral devices, lifestyle changes and surgery are other options. Our post on sleep apnea treatment options walks through them, and is sleep apnea curable covers when it can go away.
NHLBI also says to keep up with regular checkups so you know your treatment is working.
Getting Checked
If you snore loudly, someone has seen you stop breathing in your sleep, or you are tired every day no matter how long you sleep, talk to a clinician. Our guide to the signs you should be tested goes deeper. To find someone near you, our directory lists sleep apnea providers by state and city. A listing is not a referral, and we do not give medical advice.
Common Questions
Can sleep apnea kill you?
Untreated sleep apnea is linked to heart attack, stroke, heart failure and drowsy driving crashes, and Cleveland Clinic says its complications may shorten life if it is not treated. Treatment lowers that risk, which is why testing matters.
What are the health effects of sleep apnea?
NHLBI lists trouble with focus and memory, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and more. Cleveland Clinic adds high blood pressure and heart rhythm problems. The risk is mostly tied to sleep apnea that is not treated.
Does sleep apnea cause high blood pressure?
Cleveland Clinic lists high blood pressure among the complications of sleep apnea. If you have high blood pressure and signs of sleep apnea, ask your doctor about testing.
Is it safe to drive with sleep apnea?
Not when you feel tired or sleepy. NHLBI says untreated sleep apnea can make it hard to pay attention and make decisions while driving. Get treated, and do not drive drowsy in the meantime.
Keep Reading
- Signs you should be tested
- Snoring or sleep apnea
- Is sleep apnea curable
- Find a provider with our lookup
- Sleep apnea providers in Ohio
- Sleep apnea providers in Indiana
Sources
- NHLBI, Living With Sleep Apnea
- NHLBI, What Is Sleep Apnea
- NHLBI, Sleep Apnea Treatment
- Cleveland Clinic, Sleep Apnea
NightWells publishes information, not medical advice. Nothing here replaces being seen by a clinician who can examine you.
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