It’s become well-known in the medical community that sleep apnea can contribute to many health issues. The lack of healthy sleep and oxygen can lead to ongoing complications. These could include things like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. While you might not expect it, it can also contribute to deafness. According to the National Sleep Foundation, as many as 37 million Americans snore regularly. This is one of the most common signs of sleep apnea. Other things can contribute to sleep apnea such as age, genetics, and alcohol consumption. Most can be controlled through lifestyle changes. Conversely, treating sleep apnea can help you address some of the contributing health issues.

One of the newest findings suggests sleep apnea can also contribute to the risk of pneumonia. Treating it with a well-calibrated CPAP machine could reduce your risk of hospitalization. A study from the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests a CPAP machine can contribute to a healthy respiratory system. The research suggests patients with ongoing and untreated sleep apnea face a 17% increase in pneumonia.

Researchers don’t fully understand the connection. So we don’t know why sleep apnea increases your risk of pneumonia, only that it does. Some posit the lack of sleep could reduce the effectiveness of the immune system.

Work with Sleep Apnea Study Companies to Treat the Problem

One of the most important things you can do is work with experts. Let experts help you with testing and diagnosis. Advanced sleep apnea study devices can measure blood oxygen levels and other common indicators. This helps clients find answers. Then tests can be conducted to calibrate CPAP machines. The mask should fit securely to the face to prevent oxygen from escaping. Then specialists can find the right oxygen levels to regulate breathing and fight the common symptoms of sleep apnea.

Some people are diagnosed with sleep apnea after repeated complaints from loved ones about their snoring. Others complain of fatigue, dry mouth upon waking, and other problems. Especially if you’re doing something like driving large trucks, it’s essential to treat it early. Health issues like pneumonia aren’t the only deadly problems patients with sleep apnea face. It could also lead to accidents associated with drowsy driving.

The good news is this condition is treatable. Once you start treatment, you can reverse many of the common issues associated with it. If you make healthy lifestyle adjustments, it could even help you to lose weight and more.