In a quest to hold onto their youth, many people exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and stick to other healthy habits. However, such good practices can only do so much, particularly if a person suffers from sleep-disordered breathing. Does sleep apnea make you age faster? How can treatment help you turn back the clock? Continue reading to find out.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Biological Age
There are a few different ways to measure age. Chronological age is simply the amount of time that has passed since you were born. Biological age relates to how well your body is operating on a cellular level. It has been found that biological age is a better predictor of disease and mortality than chronological age.
It is possible for your biological age to be either higher or lower than your chronological age. Unfortunately, researchers have found that the disordered breathing associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can accelerate the biological aging process. This research is in line with other studies that have found OSA sufferers to be at an increased risk of numerous health conditions. They may also seem “old before their time.”
Treatment Can Help
Unlike your chronological age, it is possible to change your biological age — to an extent. A study published in 2022 found that individuals with OSA who complied with CPAP treatment for one year experienced a deceleration of their epigenetic (biological) age. Therefore, it can be concluded that biological age acceleration is at least somewhat reversible.
Of course, it must be noted that CPAP treatment is not right for everyone. Some people find it difficult to tolerate. For such individuals, an alternative therapy, such as an oral appliance from a sleep dentist, may offer similar benefits.
Do You Need OSA Treatment?
To stay as young as possible, you should get high-quality sleep! Here are some signs that you might need to seek testing and treatment for OSA:
- You snore loudly and frequently.
- You are often exhausted despite spending 7 – 8 hours asleep.
- You find it difficult to concentrate.
- You make frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom.
- You are often irritable and moody.
- It is difficult for you to concentrate on everyday tasks.
- Your partner has observed that you sometimes stop breathing while you are asleep.
- You have risk factors for OSA, such as obesity, a large neck circumference, or a deviated nasal septum.
Sleep apnea can make you age faster! Fortunately, treatment can help you to regain some of your youthful health and energy.
Meet the Practice
Under the leadership of Dr. Mitch Conditt, our practice offers comfortable and convenient oral appliance therapy for individuals who struggle with obstructive sleep apnea. If you are curious to learn more about our services, we would be pleased to speak with you. Contact our team at 817-527-8500.