What organs does sleep apnea affect?
Ava Arnold
Updated on March 17, 2026
Digestive system
If you have sleep apnea, you're more likely to have fatty liver disease, liver scarring, and higher-than-normal levels of liver enzymes. Apnea can also worsen heartburn and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can interrupt your sleep even more.Does sleep apnea cause organ damage?
These data strongly support the notion that intermittent nocturnal hypoxaemia due to OSA can injure the kidney and contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of CKD. If so, treatment of OSA creates an opportunity to halt or slow the progression of kidney failure.Can sleep apnea affect your kidneys?
Although OSA can lead to an increase in the rate of kidney function decline, there is also evidence that the presence of end-stage renal disease can lead to worsening of sleep apnea, indicating a bidirectional relation between sleep apnea and chronic kidney disease.What are the serious side effects of sleep apnea?
The more severe the obstructive sleep apnea, the greater the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart failure and strokes. Obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), which can lower blood pressure.What are the chances of dying from sleep apnea?
About 19 percent of participants with severe sleep apnea died (12 deaths), compared with about four percent of participants with no sleep apnea (46 deaths).Sleep apnea - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology
How long can you live with severe sleep apnea?
If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can shorten your life from anywhere between 12-15 years.What are the first signs of kidney problems?
Signs of Kidney Disease
- You're more tired, have less energy or are having trouble concentrating. ...
- You're having trouble sleeping. ...
- You have dry and itchy skin. ...
- You feel the need to urinate more often. ...
- You see blood in your urine. ...
- Your urine is foamy. ...
- You're experiencing persistent puffiness around your eyes.
How do you know if something is wrong with your kidneys?
You may get tired easily and have difficulty concentrating. A severe decrease in kidney function can lead to a buildup of toxins and impurities in the blood. It also causes a reduction in red blood cells. This can cause people to feel tired and weak and can make it hard to concentrate.Can sleep apnea cause kidney stones?
Sleep apnea is associated with an increased subsequent risk of the development of nephrolithiasis. Young male patients with sleep apnea and concomitant comorbidities are at the greatest risk for nephrolithiasis formation.What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated?
If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a number of health problems including hypertension, stroke, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the muscle tissue of the heart), heart failure, diabetes, obesity and heart attacks.Can CPAP cause kidney failure?
Normally, CPAP machines don't negatively affect your kidney since they're manufactured and prescribed to help with sleep apnea. However, many CPAP and BiPAP machines manufactured by Philips Respironics were recalled in June 2021 due to defects that exposed users to carcinogens through the product's airway.Does CPAP help kidney function?
They found that CPAP did not improve renal function over usual care. In those with lower risk for CKD progression, there was an improvement in estimated glomerular filtration rate with CPAP, but this was not statistically significant.Does lack of sleep cause kidney stones?
The study suggests that sleeping posture has a role in recurrent kidney stone formation because blood flow may be sluggish to the dependent position, allowing crystals to precipitate. Simple behavioural adjustments, such as frequent changes in position while sleeping, may reduce recurrent ipsilateral nephrolithiasis.Why do some people get kidney stones and others don t?
People who live in warm, dry climates and those who sweat a lot may be at higher risk than others. Certain diets. Eating a diet that's high in protein, sodium (salt) and sugar may increase your risk of some types of kidney stones. This is especially true with a high-sodium diet.Who is predisposed to kidney stones?
Frequency. In the United States, 9 percent of women and 19 percent of men develop kidney stones in their lifetime. Caucasians are more likely to develop kidney stones than African Americans.What color is urine when your kidneys are failing?
Light-brown or tea-colored urine can be a sign of kidney disease/failure or muscle breakdown.Where do you itch with kidney disease?
It may affect your whole body or be limited to a specific area – usually your back or arms. Itching tends to affects both sides of the body at the same time and may feel internal, like a crawling feeling just below the skin.What side of your back is your kidneys on?
Kidney locationThe kidneys are fist-sized organs shaped like beans. They're located at the back of the middle of your torso, in the area called your flank. They're under the lower part of your ribcage on the right and left sides of your backbone.
Is drinking a lot of water good for your kidneys?
Water helps the kidneys remove wastes from your blood in the form of urine. Water also helps keep your blood vessels open so that blood can travel freely to your kidneys, and deliver essential nutrients to them. But if you become dehydrated, then it is more difficult for this delivery system to work.What are the 8 signs of kidney failure?
8 Signs You Could Be Suffering From Kidney Disease
- Your energy levels have plummeted. ...
- Your skin is noticeably dry and itchy. ...
- You have to go to the bathroom more often. ...
- You've got blood in your urine. ...
- Your urine is usually frothy. ...
- Your eyes always look puffy. ...
- Your extremities are swollen. ...
- You experience frequent muscle cramps.
