Can Sleep Apnea Make You Age Faster?

In their quest to hold onto the strength and vigor of youth for as long as possible, humans engage in a range of activities, including meditation, exercising, dieting, skincare treatments, and all sorts of anti-aging fads. Sadly, though, many people neglect an important aspect of their health that can help them slow down the clock — their sleep. Research indicates that disordered nighttime breathing, such as what is a hallmark of sleep apnea, can accelerate aging. Let’s talking about that research and discuss some signs that you should seek treatment for sleep apnea.

Disordered Breathing and Biological Age

There are basically two ways to measure someone’s physical age. Chronological age is how old you are according to the amount of time that has passed since you were born. Biological age is a measurement of how your body is functioning compared to your chronological age.

A 2019 study, which had over 600 participants, found that untreated sleep disordered breathing can accelerate the biological aging process. This problem seems to affect women more than men, but bother genders are susceptible to it. The worse the disordered breathing, the greater the effect on biological age.

How Well Are You Sleeping?

The lead author of the abovementioned study, Dr. Xiaoyu Li, stated, “Our data highlight the potential for sleep-disordered breathing treatment to improve age-related chronic conditions and longevity.” Sleep apnea is one of the most common conditions that causes sleep disordered breathing, so it stands to reason that individuals with sleep apnea can slow down, or perhaps even lower, their biological age by seeking treatment.

Here are some signs that you might have sleep apnea and could benefit from treatment:

• Your partner complains that you snore loudly, or they have told you that you sometimes stop breathing at night.
• You often wake up with a headache or sore throat.
• You sometimes wake up gasping for air.
• You are often exhausted despite spending 8 hours or more in bed.
• You are often moody or irritable.

Turn Back the Clock with Sleep Apnea Treatment

If you receive an official diagnosis of sleep apnea, you can start exploring your treatment options. CPAP therapy is popular, but some patients find it difficult to tolerate. Many prefer an oral appliance instead. Oral sleep appliances are small, mouthguard-like devices that gently shift the lower jaw to facilitate better breathing at night. It would be wise to supplement your oral appliance therapy with lifestyle changes that promote better sleep. For example, cutting back on alcohol and losing weight may both prove to be helpful.

Sleep apnea can make you older than your age! Being aware of the signs of this condition and seeking appropriate treatment could help you to stay as young as possible for as long as possible.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Stephen Dean is an experienced dentist who focuses on helping patients conquer sleep apnea via oral appliance therapy. He is a member of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorder Disciplines, and other prestigious organizations. If you suspect that sleep apnea may be adversely affecting your health and quality of life, Dr. Dean would be pleased to consult with you. Contact our practice at 770-710-5268.