501 N Graham, Suite 455, Portland, OR 97227

10330 SE 32nd Ave, Suite 320 Milwaukie, OR 97222

Discover in what ways your sleep disorder can negatively impact your health.

We can all agree that sleep is vitally important and yet for most of us, we often don’t get enough sleep. In fact, while Americans got closer to eight hours of sleep each night in the 1950s, a 2014 Gallup poll found that we are only averaging 6.8 hours a night. Might not Sleep Apnea seem like a big difference, but that extra hour and a half could be crucial. Furthermore, sleep disorders only add to sleep frustrations. If your Milwaukie, OR ENT doctor Dr. Adrian Varela has diagnosed you with sleep apnea find out how it can affect not only your sleep but also your health.

Heart and Blood Pressure Issues

Blood oxygen levels decrease when experiencing sleep apnea, which in turn can increase blood pressure and put strain on your heart. If your Milwaukie ENT doctor has diagnosed you with obstructive sleep apnea then you are at an increased risk of high blood pressure.

Besides the risk of high blood pressure, there is also an increased chance of heart attack and irregular heartbeat.

Excessive Fatigue

While we’ve all felt tired at some point during the day those with sleep apnea experience daytime fatigue to an excessive degree. Because of this you may find it difficult to concentrate or you may even fall asleep during the day. This daytime exhaustion can also put you at an increased risk for workplace incidents and car accidents.

Type 2 Diabetes

Those with sleep apnea are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and vice versa. While the connection isn’t completely clear, there is a link between insulin resistance, obesity and sleep apnea.

Liver Issues

Patients who’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea are more likely to develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which can cause scarring and issues with liver function.

If you haven’t found the right treatment to ease sleep apnea symptoms and get a good night’s rest then turn to your Milwaukie otolaryngologist at Northwest ENT & Allergy today.

About a home sleep study we offer

Watermark integrated home sleep technology is a fast, simple and cost effective alternative for the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. After identification of appropriate candidates for testing through a validated OSA risk questionnaire, home sleep testing equipment is provided to the patient by the provider. The Watermark sleep testing devices have been validated to be as effective as an in-lab sleep studies, yet with the convenience and simplicity of being performed in the comfort of the patients home at a fraction of the cost. Upon completion of the 2 night study, the information is uploaded to the WM Sleep Portal where the study data is auto-processed, undergoes a technical QA edit and professional interpretation by Dr. Adrian Varela, board certified sleep physician before being returned to the ordering provider for diagnosis, all within 48 hours.