Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease

The New Year is the perfect time to access the positive changes we can make on our health and wellness journey. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has annually designated February as American Heart Month, and for good reason. The statics on heart disease are sobering. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. In fact, according to the CDC, a person dies of cardiovascular disease every 36 seconds in the US. We associate cardiovascular wellbeing with eating a heart-healthy diet and getting regular exercise, but new research shows that a good night’s sleep is also critical to maintaining overall cardiovascular health. Of the 92 million people who suffer from cardiovascular disease, 60% also suffer from sleep apnea. Key risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. These conditions are also risk factors for sleep apnea. Obstructive Sleep Apnea, the most common type of sleep apnea, has serious cardiovascular comorbidities, including arrhythmia, stroke, and heart failure. The correlation between OSA and cardiovascular health is best understood by examining how the body reacts during an apnea episode.

During a sleep apnea event, the tongue and the muscles surrounding the airway relax and collapse, resulting in obstructed airflow to the lungs. For those who carry excess weight, a large neck may contribute to the narrowing of the breathing tube and blockage of the airway. Lapses in breathing typically lasting between 10 to 20 seconds repeatedly occur during the night. When breathing stops, oxygen levels in the blood drop. Our bodies respond by releasing the stress hormone epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline. This “fight or flight” response elevates the heart rate and can lead to high blood pressure. Overall, heart function decreases because it becomes less efficient at pumping blood, and the heart itself is affected because of the pressure changes taking place in the chest. According to the American College of Cardiology, patients with OSA are four times more likely to have abnormal heart rhythms, including atrial fibrillation, and are two times more likely to have a heart attack. Research conducted at Yale University revealed that people who have had sleep apnea for up to 5 years have a 30 percent increase in their risk of having a heart attack or dying. And the more severe the sleep apnea, the higher the risk for heart attack or even death. 

Perhaps what is even more staggering is the fact that sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that 85 to 90 percent of those who have sleep apnea don’t know they have it. The signs of sleep apnea are not always that obvious, or they can be attributed to other conditions. One of the first signs of sleep apnea is snoring. While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, many sleep apnea sufferers do snore. Other common warning signs include waking up with a dry mouth, morning headaches, daytime fatigue, and loss of mental acuity or focus. 

For those who do receive a sleep apnea diagnosis, there are successful treatments that can help control sleep apnea symptoms and help prevent any heart-related problems. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the gold standard for treatment of moderate to severe sleep apnea. For patients with cardiovascular risk or conditions, research recently published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation stated that people with sleep apnea, especially those over age 60, could lessen their risk of cardiovascular disease by using CPAP to breathe better at night. More than a snoring condition, obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder with serious cardiovascular comorbidities. Understanding how sleep apnea affects the heart should encourage anyone suffering from its symptoms to seek testing, diagnosis, and treatment. The results will not only be a better night’s sleep but also an improved quality of life. 

To learn more about how BetterNight can help you provide more effective and efficient care to your at-risk sleep apnea patients, contact us.