can obstructive sleep apnea cause brain damage

[djones600]

i have obstructive sleep apnea it went undiagnosed for at least 11 years i was wondering if  there would be any type of brain damage as a result

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Yes sleep apnea can cause permanent brain damage due to lack of oxygen supply to the brain over the years.
CPAP device has been consistently found to be the most effective treatment of sleep apnea.
I would suggest you to start using it as soon as you can. Do let me know if you need more information.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Obstructive sleep apnea patients suffer subtle brain damage, including problems with memory, thought and motor skills. The repeated oxygen loss from sleep apnea may damage other brain structures that regulate memory and thinking.

The loss of oxygen and the constant struggle to breathe increase sleep apnea patients' risk of high blood pressure, stroke and other heart-related ailments.

The most common treatment and arguably the most consistently effective treatment for sleep apnea is the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. In addition to CPAP, a dentist specializing in sleep disorders can prescribe Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT).

So please contact your doctor if you have not done it before so that treatment can be started.

Regards and God bless.