Untreated Sleep Apnea Is A Silent Killer

Did you know that, according to many sources, Jerry Garcia–the affable Grateful Dead guitarist–suffered from sleep apnea? In fact, his fatal heart attack back in 1995 may have been due in part to this dangerous condition. You see, if left untreated, sleep apnea can wreak havoc on your entire system. In addition to the extra stress put on your body due to lack of quality sleep, the lack of oxygen when you do sleep is a big problem. Hypoxemia (lack of oxygen in the blood) can be linked to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular complications. Untreated sleep apnea can also lead to type 2 diabetes, liver problems, daytime fatigue, and other total-system issues. It can even lead to death. In Jerry’s honor, we have included a classic video link for your enjoyment. We just hope that if you or your partner needs help managing sleep apnea symptoms, you will take it seriously enough to contact one of our North Carolina dentist’s offices as soon as possible.