February is American Heart Month, the perfect time to learn about common health conditions that can contribute to heart issues. Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder in which breathing regurlarly stops and starts during sleep, is one of them.
How Sleep Apnea Affects the Heart
When you stop breathing, even for a moment, your oxygen levels dip. Low oxygen triggers your sympathetic nervous system, which helps the body react to stress. This causes gasping for air, which often disrupts sleep.
The sympathetic nervous system also responds to low oxygen by tightening blood vessels and raising both heart rate and blood pressure. If these interruptions in breathing happen repeatedly throughout the night, the constant shifts in blood pressure can lead to chronic hypertension or aggravate preexisting high blood pressure.
Additionally, chronic sleep disturbances, a common side effect of sleep apnea, can take a toll on the heart, potentially raising your bad cholesterol level, which can contribute to clogged arteries and impaired heart muscle function.
Heart-Related Complications of Sleep Apnea
People with sleep apnea are at a higher risk of experiencing:
- Heart attack—individuals with untreated sleep apnea are two times as likely to have a heart attack.
- High blood pressure—around 50% of patients with sleep apnea have high blood pressure.
- Heart disease—sleep apnea elevates the risk of coronary heart disease by 30%.
- Heart failure—sleep apnea increases the risk of heart failure by 140%.
The Good News
Sleep apnea is manageable, and several treatment options exist, including a CPAP machine. A CPAP can help keep your airways open, improve your oxygen flow and ease the strain on your cardiovascular system.
If you think you might have sleep apnea, don’t wait to seek medical care. Call us now to schedule your sleep apnea consultation.
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