Sleeping poorly can affect the heart and promote diabetes, specialists warn

Santo Domingo. – Sleeping poorly does not just cause tiredness during the day. Sleep medicine specialists warn that disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea can increase the risk of cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological diseases if they are not diagnosed and treated in time.

Experts explain that breathing plays a fundamental role during rest and that nocturnal respiratory disturbances can have significant health consequences.

Among the most frequent disorders is obstructive sleep apnea, a condition characterized by repeated pauses in breathing while the person sleeps due to the partial or total collapse of the airways.

According to specialists, each episode causes a temporary decrease in oxygen levels and multiple sleep interruptions, often imperceptible to the patient, but with cumulative effects on the body.

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Experts point out that this condition keeps the body in a constant state of physiological stress, favoring the onset of high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and strokes.

Likewise, medical studies have shown a close relationship between sleep apnea and metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, conditions that can mutually aggravate each other.

Specialists highlight that many people live for years with symptoms without suspecting that they suffer from a sleep disorder. Among the main warning signs are frequent snoring, breathing pauses observed by family members, a feeling of choking during the night, constant awakenings, morning headaches, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Often, patients consider it normal to feel tired or permanently sleepy, when in reality it is a medical condition that can be diagnosed and treated.

Experts indicate that a sleep medicine consultation allows for the identification of the causes of the problem through a detailed clinical evaluation and, when necessary, specialized studies that monitor breathing, oxygen levels, and brain activity during rest.

In cases of obstructive sleep apnea, one of the most commonly used treatments is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, a method that helps keep the airways open during the night and significantly improves sleep quality.

Health professionals also recommend adopting habits that promote adequate rest, such as maintaining regular sleep schedules, avoiding the use of electronic devices before bedtime, reducing caffeine consumption in the afternoon, and ensuring quiet and comfortable environments for sleeping.

However, they warn that when symptoms persist or affect quality of life, it is essential to seek specialized medical attention, as an early diagnosis can prevent complications and significantly improve the health and well-being of patients.

Specialists agree that sleeping well should be considered a basic necessity for maintaining good health and not an occasional privilege, which is why they call on the population to pay attention to the signs that could indicate the presence of a sleep disorder.