Sleep Apenea

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects about 18 million Americans. It causes repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, usually because the airways become narrowed or blocked. This often leads to loud snoring or gasping for air.

These breathing interruptions can occur several times per night or, in severe cases, every one to two minutes. As a result, a person with sleep apnea will feel tired and sleepy during the day, experience morning headaches and a dry mouth, and have issues with concentration and memory, among other symptoms.

The most serious problem with sleep apnea is that it lowers oxygen levels in the body. Without enough oxygen, the body is put under stress, and organs and tissues do not get what they need. This can lead to health issues like irregular heartbeat, heart failure, heart disease, and stroke.

In summary, sleep apnea is closely linked to heart health. Let’s take a closer look at how obstructive sleep apnea affects the heart and blood vessels.

What’s the Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease?

Did you know that the number one leading cause of death in the US, as well as in the entire world, is heart disease? Numerous lifestyle choices contribute to heart disease, including not being physically active, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and an unhealthy diet. Similarly, some health conditions can also contribute to heart disease, including high cholesterol levels, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and sleep apnea.

If sleep apnea is not treated, it can greatly raise the risk of heart disease and irregular heartbeats. People with sleep apnea are two to four times more likely to develop abnormal heart rhythms than those without it. They also have a much higher risk of heart failure and coronary heart disease.

How Sleep Apnea Affects Cardiovascular Health?

Repeated pauses in breathing can damage the heart and also affect the whole cardiovascular system. While researchers are still discovering new ways sleep apnea impacts the body, some of the main biological pathways are already known.

Research shows that being overweight or obese is a major factor in developing both heart disease and sleep apnea. Sleep apnea itself can also lead to heart disease. Both sleep apnea and obesity can cause other health problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, which are harmful to the heart.

Every time there’s a pause in breathing, blood oxygen levels reduce, Each time breathing stops, the level of oxygen in the blood drops, and the body does not get enough oxygen. This triggers the sympathetic nervous system, which reacts as if the body is under stress or in danger. As a result, people may gasp for air, blood vessels tighten, heart rate goes up, and blood pressure rises.e against a narrowed or closed upper airway when trying to breathe, resulting in an unsuccessful, forced inhalation that causes changes in pressure within the chest. Eventually, these changes in pressure in the chest cavity can damage the heart and lead to atrial fibrillation, blood flow issues, and even heart failure.

When a person with sleep apnea stops breathing, the oxygen levels drop significantly. Then, after each pause, when they inhale successfully, the oxygen levels increase again, and oxygen can enter the lungs, blood, and tissues. However, these frequent fluctuations in oxygen levels can cause oxidative stress, which promotes systemic inflammation and neurochemical and physiological reactions that contribute to the development of heart disease.

Now that you are aware of the serious health consequences, if you suspect you may have sleep apnea, it is essential to consult your doctor. Getting help early can prevent serious health problems.