The Role of Sleep Apnea Evaluation in Cardiovascular Health

According to studies, people with severe sleep apnea who don’t get treated have a three times greater risk of heart attack and death. The increase in risk is linked to low oxygen levels, disrupted sleep, and nighttime arousals that cause heart and blood pressure to spike.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Sleep-related respiratory disorders most commonly manifest as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It causes the collapse of the upper airway during sleep, leading to periods of stopping or limiting airflow to the lungs. This happens repeatedly throughout the night, resulting in poor-quality sleep and fatigue upon waking.

Each time the airway closes during sleep, oxygen levels drop, and the body releases epinephrine, or adrenaline, which can raise blood pressure and contribute to cardiovascular disease. Frequent deprivation of sleep’s therapeutic benefits can potentially increase the risk of insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Over the last two decades, the number of people diagnosed with OSA has increased dramatically. This is mainly due to increased awareness among doctors and patients, as well as improved screening methods like home sleep tests.

A sleep apnea evaluation Lafayette, LA should be considered in any symptomatic patient with a high pretest probability of OSA and without classic comorbidities.

Hypertension

Obstructive sleep apnea is related to an increased risk of hypertension or high blood pressure. The repeated episodes of low blood oxygen levels increase your heart rate and put extra strain on the cardiovascular system. This can lead to heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.

Obesity and overweight raise your chances of obstructive sleep apnea. Overweight people often accumulate fat in the neck, tongue, and upper abdomen, reducing the size of their airways and contributing to their breathing problems during sleep.

Certain medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and a family history of obstructive sleep apnea also raise your risk for this condition. Other factors include nasal congestion, smoking, and endocrine disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome. The treatment choices available to you depend on the severity of your sleep disturbance.

Heart Failure

Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke, kills more than 795,000 people in the United States every year. Stroke is especially dangerous because it can leave blood clots that travel directly to the brain.

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to recurring breathing interruptions that cause low oxygen levels, which can strain the heart. This raises your chances of having arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats), which might result in abrupt cardiac death.

Talk with your doctor if you snore or have other sleep apnea symptoms, especially if it is accompanied by daytime sleepiness and headaches. They may recommend an overnight sleep study (polysomnogram). 

Stroke

A stroke is a severe medical condition that can result from many things, including obstructive sleep apnea. It can cause problems with the brain, affecting memory, attention, and concentration and even resulting in depression.

Breathing interruptions during sleep are caused by obstructive sleep apnea, which can limit the quantity of oxygen given to the brain. This can result in several consequences, such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke.

Obstructive sleep apnea is often diagnosed with a physical exam and a history of symptoms. A doctor may also perform a head and neck exam to look for factors that can heighten a person’s risk for sleep apnea, such as obesity, a thickened neck circumference, or enlarged tonsils. They may also check a person’s mouth and jaw to evaluate tongue size and shape.

Diabetes

Severe apnea patients may experience episodes where they stop breathing for a few seconds to more than a minute while sleeping. They may also gasp, jerk, or struggle to breathe and often snore loudly.

This can make them incredibly tired throughout the day. They are more likely to have accidents and fall asleep while driving, operating machinery, or doing other dangerous activities. They are more likely to develop problems at work or in their relationships.

Untreated sleep apnea increases the risks of diabetes, heart disease, and other metabolic disorders. It can also lower oxygen levels and affect the heart muscle. This can lead to several symptoms, such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. It can also cause problems with the kidneys and liver.