The summer season means fun in the sun, but don’t lose sight of your overall health. June is National Aphasia Awareness Month. Aphasia is the loss of ability to understand or express speech, caused by brain damage. And the leading cause is stroke, which can be caused by untreated obstructive sleep apnea.

As you know, untreated sleep apnea is dangerous because it can lead to a variety of health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Health complications associated with sleep apnea are nothing to be ignored. So while we raise awareness for aphasia, let’s take a look at the connection between sleep apnea and stroke, too.

Heart Disease and Stroke

Sleep apnea can lead to heart attacks, which cause people to die in the middle of the night due to low oxygen or the stress of waking up frequently during sleep. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, while stroke takes fourth place for the cause of death and a leading cause of disability with high blood pressure being a major risk in both conditions. The relationship between sleep apnea, hypertension and cardiovascular disease is very strong, which makes it vital that everyone understand this connection and seek treatment immediately.

The Sleep Apnea Connection

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women. But what you may not realize is that sleep apnea can lead to heart attacks, which can cause people to die in the middle of the night due to low oxygen or the stress of waking up frequently during sleep.

As stated previously, heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, while stroke takes fourth place for the cause of death and leading cause of disability with high blood pressure being a major risk in both conditions. The relationship between sleep apnea, hypertension, stroke and heart disease is very strong, which makes it vital that everyone understand this connection as to further prevent the development of aphasia as well.

Visit Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia for proper treatment planning to help prevent stroke, aphasia and sleep apnea in Atlanta.