Does Your Sleep Apnea Threaten Your Heart?
Sleep Apnea CauseIf you have heart-related problems, you probably also suffer from sleep apnea. And, if you have sleep apnea and don't yet have heart-related problems, you probably will have them in the future. We don't know for sure whether sleep apnea directly causes heart problems. But it's clear that if you currently have sleep apnea, there's a very good chance you'll have heart disease in the future.
If you have sleep apnea, you're 230% more likely to develop congestive heart failure than your neighbor who doesn't have sleep apnea. Your chances of having a stroke are 150% higher than you neighbor's, too. And if you're suffering from atrial fibrillation you are almost certain to have more complications because of obstructive sleep apnea. Atrial fibrillation is a situation where the upper part of your heart (the atrium) isn't beating in time with the lower part (the ventricle). If you have atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea, you're at a far higher risk of experiencing sudden, unexpected death. You're also at greatly increased risk for other heart problems, too.
When you have an "anemic episode" during sleep -- when your breath stops because of airway blockage, your blood pressure increases. This is because the failure to breathe causes a drop in your blood's oxygen level. The brain, sensing this drop in oxygen, signals the blood vessels to "tighten up," sending increased oxygen to the heart and brain, as well as other portions of the body. Recurring sleep apnea -- multiple episodes per hour, greatly stress the heart and the entire cardiovascular system. And in addition to all this nighttime stress and strain, your body is also learning to react to any type of stress -- not just breathing stress -- with increased blood pressure and anxiety. This is what leads to the link between sleep apnea and heart disease.
What Can You Do About It?
You should be seeing your doctor annually for an in-depth checkup. If you suspect heart problems or sleep apnea, discuss these with your doctor and then closely follow the resulting medical instructions. Whether those instructions involve medications, behavior modifications, surgery, or whatever, take faithful action. If left untreated, either heart problems or sleep apnea can cause you serious damage, even death.
I'm Bill Johnson, the webmaster of www.insomnia-answers.com [http://www.insomnia-answers.com]. I research and write articles on the topic of sleep apnea [http://www.insomnia-answers.com/sleep-apnea/] and other sleep disorders. Please visit my site to get your free copy of my special report, "Learn the Tactics to Defeat Sleep Disorder," which can be found on the "Free Reports" page.