If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from sleep apnea, you know that the condition involves more than the occasional restless night. Fatigue, an inability to focus, headaches, and irritability are just some of the immediate effects you might notice after a night of fitful sleep. Longer-term health problems brought on by poor sleep can lead to serious, disabling medical conditions.
Diagnosis is crucial to securing long-term disability benefits
Sleep apnea can cause a dangerous drop in oxygen to your blood supply. Long-term, this could increase your risk of:
- High blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Liver disease
- Diabetes
- Depression
Any of these long-term conditions brought on by sleep apnea may qualify you for disability benefits. However, insurance providers often deny disability claims based on sleep apnea alone. It can feel like you have to develop a serious, sometimes irreversible problem before an insurance company takes your claim seriously.
The fact is sleep apnea on its own can be disabling. Exhaustion can put you at greater risk of being involved in a workplace accident. Sleepiness behind the wheel can lead to a catastrophic car accident. You should seek a diagnosis of sleep apnea from your doctor as soon as possible. Documenting your symptoms and backing up the potential dangers with medical evidence can help strengthen your disability claim.
It’s important to show insurance companies exactly how sleep apnea has impacted your life. Doing so can put you in a better position to recover long-term disability benefits. A legal professional can help guide you through this process.