Patient/caregiver were instructed regarding complications of poorly managed central sleep apnea as follows:
Risk for poor blood sugar control:
- Poorly managed sleep apnea can result in interrupted sleep pattern with multiple awakenings during the night. Lack of sleep and proper rest can lead to a stressful situation.
- Human body tries to cope up with this new stressful condition by increasing secretion of steroid hormones.
- Steroid hormones contribute to increased resistance to action of insulin, thus resulting in poor mobilization of glucose from the blood into the cells and increased blood glucose levels.
- So, poor sleep pattern in individuals with sleep apnea can result in poor blood sugar control, thus increasing an individual’s chance of turning diabetic.
- Also, poorly managed sleep apnea in diabetic individuals can lead to worsening of blood sugar control, thus necessitating frequent medication changes and/or dosage adjustments.
Increased risk for stroke:
- Interrupted breathing pattern in individuals with poorly controlled sleep apnea, can lead to sudden drop in blood oxygen levels.
- Consequently, this can lead to drop in oxygen supply to vital organs, such as, heart and brain, thus affecting their function.
- Compromised cardiac function with reduced pumping activity of the heart can lead to reduced blood & oxygen supply to the brain, resulting in increased risk for stroke.
Slowing of brain function:
- Persistent episodes of reduced blood & oxygen supply to the brain in individuals with sleep apnea can lead to progressive slowing of brain function and intellectual abilities.
- This outcome in younger individuals can compromise their school and job performance, thus stunting their academic growth.
- Progressive slowing of brain function in older individuals can set the ground for early-onset memory loss and dementia.
