Sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease are two health conditions that surprisingly have a deep, intricate correlation. As we further into the nuances of this correlation, we’ll learn how sleep apnea — a condition that disrupts your breathing while you sleep — can significantly impact your cardiovascular health.
The Basics of Sleep Apnea
First, let’s understand what sleep apnea is about. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep due to narrow airways or brain communication errors. The common symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, and waking up with a dry mouth. But how does this relate to your heart’s health? the correlation between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease is what we’ll discuss in this article.
Different Types of Sleep Apnea
The main types of sleep apnea are:
- Obstructive sleep apnea: where throat muscles intermittently relax and block your airway during sleep.
- Central sleep apnea: where your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing.
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome: this occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease
The correlation between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease is increasingly becoming a focus in the medical field. Sleep apnea, specifically obstructive sleep apnea, has been linked to several types of heart and vascular diseases. These include high blood pressure, stroke, arrhythmia, heart failure, and even heart attacks.
High Blood Pressure and Sleep Apnea
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often associated with obstructive sleep apnea. When breathing is disrupted during sleep, there’s a significant drop in the oxygen levels in your blood. Your body responses by releasing stress hormones that raise your blood pressure, thereby increasing your risk for hypertension.
Heart Disease and Sleep Apnea
The drop in oxygen levels in your blood, due to the stoppage of breathing, can put a strain on your heart. This strain can lead to an increased risk of recurrent heart attack and atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm. Heart failure is also more common in people with obstructive sleep apnea.
Stroke and Sleep Apnea
Studies show that obstructive sleep apnea can be a contributing factor to having a stroke. , having obstructive sleep apnea can make it more difficult to recover from a stroke and may increase the likelihood of additional strokes.
