Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome has two main effects.

The first is excessive daytime sleepiness, which leads to decreased attention, affects work performance, and impairs the ability to operate machinery or drive vehicles. It can also impact social interactions. People with sleep apnea are sometimes perceived as irritable or antisocial when, in reality, their main issue is poor sleep quality.

The second effect of obstructive sleep apnea is physiological. When blood oxygen levels drop below a certain threshold, the heart detects it and reacts by beating faster to compensate. If this occurs frequently, it can lead to lasting damage. There is a clear link between sleep apnea and high blood pressure or heart disease. Studies have also shown that untreated sleep apnea can contribute to strokes and heart attacks.

Failing to treat sleep apnea can be very dangerous, not only for yourself but also for others—a drowsy driver is just as hazardous as a drunk driver!