Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder affecting 18 million Americans. It is characterized by repeated breathing interruptions during sleep mainly caused by narrowed or blocked airways that restrict airflow to the lungs, resulting in loud snoring or gasping for air.
These breathing interruptions can occur several times per night or, in severe cases, every one to two minutes. As a result, a person with sleep apnea will feel tired and sleepy during the day, experience morning headaches and dry mouth, have concentration and memory issues, etc.
However, the most serious consequence of sleep apnea is reduced oxygen levels which causes remarkable stress on the entire body as enough oxygen cannot get to other organs and tissues. This can also lead to numerous health complications such as irregular heartbeat, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and stroke.
In short, this common sleep disorder has a strong connection with heart health. So, let’s have a closer look at the impact obstructive sleep apnea has on cardiovascular health.
What’s the Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease?
Did you know that the number one leading cause of death in the US, as well as in the entire world, is heart disease? Numerous lifestyle choices contribute to heart disease including not being physically active, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and an unhealthy diet. Similarly, some health conditions can also contribute to heart disease including high cholesterol levels, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and sleep apnea.
Precisely speaking, untreated sleep apnea can remarkably increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart arrhythmias. Estimates show that sleep apnea patients have a 2 to 4 times higher risk of developing abnormal heart rhythms compared to people without sleep apnea. Plus, the risk of heart failure is 140% higher and the risk of coronary heart disease is 130% higher in people suffering from sleep apnea.
How Sleep Apnea Affects Cardiovascular Health?
Repeated breathing pauses can potentially damage the heart. But, that’s not all! They can also harm the entire cardiovascular system. And, although researchers are still learning about new ways in which sleep apnea impacts the cardiovascular system, some biological pathways have already been identified.
According to research, being overweight and obese plays a huge role in developing both heart disease and sleep apnea. Sleep apnea on its own contributes to heart disease. Plus, both sleep apnea and obesity independently contribute to health conditions that harm heart health, like hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and diabetes.
- Sympathetic Nervous System
Every time there’s a pause in breathing, blood oxygen levels reduce, and the body becomes deprived of oxygen. As there isn’t enough oxygen, chemoreceptors activate the sympathetic nervous system to respond like in a stressful or dangerous situation, resulting in gasping for air, as well as constricting blood vessels, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.
Obstructive sleep apnea patients inhale against a narrowed or closed upper airway when trying to breathe which pretty much is an unsuccessful, forced inhalation which then causes changes in pressure within the chest. Eventually, these changes in pressure in the chest cavity can damage the heart and lead to atrial fibrillation, blood flow issues, and even heart failure.
When a person with sleep apnea stops breathing the oxygen levels drop significantly. Then, after each pause, when they inhale successfully the oxygen levels increase again and oxygen can get into the lungs, blood, and tissues. However, these frequent fluctuations in oxygen levels can cause oxidative stress which promotes systemic inflammation, and neurochemical and physiological reactions that contribute to heart disease.
Now that you know the serious health consequences of untreated sleep apnea, make sure you visit your doctor if you suspect you may have this sleep disorder.