Sleep apnea and stroke are both serious medical conditions that, unfortunately, sometimes go hand-in-hand. Scientists have documented important connections between sleep apnea and stroke; having sleep apnea definitely increases your risk of stroke. If you suspect that you might have sleep apnea, contact your doctor right away. Left untreated, moderate to severe sleep apnea greatly increase the chances that you will have a stroke. Therapeutic interventions can help reduce the effects of sleep apnea in your body, which in turn can help reduce your risk for stroke.

Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea refers to episodes of not breathing that occur while you’re asleep. For different reasons – some related to the shape of your body, others related to your brain’s function – necessary oxygen does not correctly cycle through your body, causing your body to enter a high state of alarm. This can wake you up, dozens or hundreds of times each night, even if you don’t remember this in the morning. These constant cycles of traumatic oxygen deprivation steadily erode your body’s natural functions, resulting in serious medical conditions that can include cardiovascular damage and stroke.

During a Stroke
Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States, and the leading cause of disability. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in your brain gets blocked, or bursts. Signs that a stroke might be occurring include sudden paralysis in your leg, arm, or on one side of your face. You might have trouble talking, or understanding what someone else is saying. Stroke victims sometimes experience blurred vision or double vision; you might also experience a sudden headache. You might also feel dizzy, nauseated, or weak. Because strokes can be permanently disabling or even cause death, it’s crucial to talk with your doctor if you suspect that you might have sleep apnea.

Increased Risk
If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, your risk for having a stroke is four times higher than for someone who does not have sleep apnea. Fortunately, sleep apnea is treatable. If you’re concerned that sleep apnea might be disrupting your sleep, talk with your doctor. There are many therapies available that help people diagnosed with sleep apnea to get a better night’s sleep, and simple lifestyle changes might help address the issue, too. Left untreated, though, sleep apnea makes you more vulnerable to stroke. Make your appointment right away.

References
University of California Medical Center San Francisco, Stroke
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/stroke/
American Heart Association, Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease, Stroke
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/MyHeartandStrokeNews/Sleep-Apnea-and-Heart-Disease-Stroke_UCM_441857_Article.jsp
American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Study links severe sleep apnea to increased risk of stroke, cancer and death
http://www.aasmnet.org/articles.aspx?id=4687
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NINDS Sleep Apnea Information Page
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sleep_apnea/sleep_apnea.htm
The New England Journal of Medicine, Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor for Stroke and Death
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa043104