Can Sleep Apnea Make You Age Faster?

Everyone wants to stay young! In your efforts to maintain your youth, your routine might include a balanced diet, a consistent exercise regimen, and a high-quality skincare routine. Certainly, such measures can be helpful, but they do not address one of the biggest factors that influences the aging process: sleep. Research suggests that poor sleep quality, especially when it involves disordered breathing (as is true of sleep apnea), can speed up the aging process. Continue reading below to learn more about this connection. You will also discover how you may be able to turn back the clock.

Disordered Breathing and Biological Age

In order to understand how sleep apnea can affect aging, it is important to distinguish between the two main types of aging:

• Chronological age is the actual number of years a person has lived.
• Biological age reflects how well an individual’s genes and body are functioning overall. While chronological age cannot be changed, there are quite a few factors that can affect the rate of biological aging.  

A 2019 study examined data from over 600 participants and found that sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) can hasten biological aging. The severity of SDB correlated with a greater impact on biological age. Another study conducted in 2022 reinforced the conclusion that poor sleep affects biological aging.

Dr. Xiaoyu Li, the lead author of the 2019 study, stated, “Our data highlight the potential for sleep-disordered breathing treatment to improve age-related chronic conditions and longevity.” This suggests that enhancing the quality of your sleep could slow down, or possibly even reverse, biological aging.

How Well Are You Sleeping?

Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common forms of SDB. Here are some signs that you should seek treatment for this condition:

• You experience regular and loud snoring.
• Your partner has observed that you sometimes stop breathing during sleep.
• You sometimes wake up gasping for air.
• You have frequent morning headaches or sore throats.
• You experience persistent daytime fatigue.
• You tend to be moody and irritable.
• You have to get up frequently to use the bathroom at night.

Turn Back the Clock with Sleep Apnea Treatment

If you suspect you have OSA, consult a qualified medical professional who can help you arrange for testing. Upon receiving an official diagnosis, you can start exploring your treatment options. Many patients have successfully used a custom-made oral appliance from a dentist that slightly repositions the lower jaw to facilitate better breathing. These appliances are compact, convenient, and generally easy for patients to adapt to.

Sleep apnea could make you age faster! Do all you can to get high-quality rest so you can hold onto your youthful health and vigor.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Deborah Romack has been practicing dentistry for more than 25 years. She is an accomplished sleep dentist who specializes in providing oral appliance therapy. If you believe you have sleep apnea, she and our team can help you determine your next steps. Contact our Weatherford, TX, office at 817-594-3806.