Lack of Fresh Air Intake

The number one problem is the brain and body is starved of oxygen. An apnea episode, when the body stops breathing, obviously prevents air from being taken in. The narrowed airway prevalent in people with sleep apnea prevents a normal amount of fresh air into the lungs. This starves the body of oxygen necessary to enrich blood and power organs.

Poor Quality Sleep

Because there is a lack of quality airflow and oxygen enrichment, people with sleep apnea oftentimes do not reach their full potential of rest. The result is a feeling of exhaustion, which lasts during awake hours. The person with sleep apnea will take frequent naps or doze off when not stimulated by conversation, entertainment or work.

Cardiovascular Problems

The diminished levels of oxygen in the bloodstream leads to the body working harder to distribute the necessary oxygen. This means higher blood pressure and heart rates--two issues that can lead to catastrophic cardiac episodes, such as a heart attack or stroke.

Obesity and Diabetes

Most people with sleep apnea are obese. The fatty tissue in the neck causes the obstruction of the uvula and problems with breathing. The fatigue and cardiovascular issues result in the body delving further into obesity. As the body continues to grow more obese, type 2 diabetes is likely to onset. The cycle of cardiovascular difficulties, obesity and diabetes will continue to break the body down.

Driving

As previously mentioned, people with sleep apnea are often sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation leads to lessened alertness and response times. All together, this is a danger for a person behind the wheel. Drivers who do not respond quickly to changes on the roadway can cause accidents or become the victims of them.