Sleep apnea is a common disorder diagnosed among adults who experience abnormal breathing patterns, especially at night. Patients of this condition develop intermittent and paused irregular breathing often coupled with snoring. If left unchecked, these short pauses and breathing irregularities can all trigger major heart, brain, and endocrine organ complications. Between obstructive and central sleep apnea, adults may develop the following associated health complications. The symptoms will also vary depending on the severity of the condition.

1. Neurological Problems
Memory loss is one of the major symptoms associated with sleep apnea. This disorder triggers intermittent breathing and short pauses between inhaling and exhaling. Both actions deprive the brain of fresh oxygen and affect its functionality. Patients may even experience persistent difficulties with remembering things. Along with memory loss, confusion is a common problem experienced by adults triggered due to lack of proper rest. Adults with severe sleep apnea will also tend to be more depressed. This is majorly due to their inability to perform basic tasks that were possible before the disorder affected their daily routine.

2. Respiratory Problems
Sleep apnea may also trigger respiratory diseases like asthma. It is a well-established fact that the apnea results in short abrupt pauses and affects the breathing cycle severely. These short pauses can even force the breathing to abruptly stop for a few seconds, which intensifies pressure on the respiratory organs. The difficulties get worse at night where these short pauses can happen several times in a minute. Another risk is low oxygen saturation due to intermittent breathing that deprives vital organs of the oxygen needed for proper functioning.

3. Common Health Complications
Breathing problems and low blood oxygen saturation due to sleep apnea also severely affects one’s blood pressure. The heart is forced to pump more oxygenated blood throughout the system to compensate for oxygen saturation, resulting in an increase in blood pressure. Sleep apnea also triggers an imbalance in normal blood glucose levels and increases the chances of type 2 diabetes among older adults. Adults may also suffer from several gastroesophageal reflux diseases or develop a weakened immune system due to inadequate rest. The risk of liver or kidney problems due to an imbalance of enzymes in the body is also high with obstructive sleep apnea.

4. Other Discomforts
Sleep apnea can also trigger smaller physical and mental discomforts that may affect a person or their daily routine. For example, changes in mood due to inadequate rest is a commonly observed symptom among those with severe sleep apnea. Adults may become more irritable over time and may also develop troubles with their concentration. Doing even some of the most basic tasks may become challenging for older adults due to problems with their gross motor skills. Adults also complain about dry mouth syndrome and persistent headache in the morning. Fatigue is also a common problem associated with sleep apnea.