This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Sleep Apnea Linked to Cardiovascular Disease

The link between the two conditions should raise awareness among healthcare providers, according to a new published study.

A study that appeared in the July 2011 issue of the Journal of Hypertension suggests that obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that occurs when the soft tissue in the upper airways relaxes during sleep and either partially or completely closes off the airway, has an impact on blood vessel abnormalities and should be treated to prevent potentially fatal heart conditions.

Researchers who conducted the study examined blood vessel function in more than 100 healthy people, who were divided into three groups:
those with moderate or severe sleep apnea without high blood pressure, those with high blood pressure but no sleep apnea and those with neither sleep apnea nor high blood pressure.

The researchers found that in those with sleep apnea, blood supply and function improved after participants received 26 weeks of continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, using a device that holds the airway open during sleep. Thus, they concluded that awareness of the link between obstructive sleep apnea and heart disease is essential.

Find out what's happening in Upper St. Clairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea,” said Melanie Cady, technical director of the Sleep Center of Greater Pittsburgh. “When a sleep apnea episode occurs, the body protects itself by arousing the brain and sending signals to breathe. When these arousals occur, a person’s sleep is disrupted, even if they do not remember it happening in the morning.”

There are several symptoms that can alert someone that they may be suffering from this condition, according to Cady. These include daytime drowsiness, morning headaches, irritability, depression, drowsy driving and difficulty concentrating.  In addition, over time, the person may develop hypertension and cardiac abnormalities, which can then lead to heart disease and/or stroke.

Find out what's happening in Upper St. Clairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“A diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is made after a person has a sleep study, which determines if the airway is closing off during sleep,” Cady explained. “A sleep study also will determine the quality of sleep, type of apnea, oxygen levels and heart rhythm among several other factors which may be related to obstructive sleep apnea or even other conditions, such as restless leg syndrome, teeth grinding or insomnia."

According to Cady, the link exists between obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease because of the increased work on the heart and lungs when the airway closes of during an apnea episode. When the airway is closed off, oxygen levels drop in the blood that goes to the heart and lungs, and as a result, the heart rate may slow or even beat irregularly, which may lead to long term cardiovascular disease. When the episode ends, and the person begins to breathe again, the heart rate increases. This repeated change in heart rate from slow to fast throughout the night increases work on the heart.

“There are several treatments available for people with sleep apnea,” Cady explained. “The primary treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is positive pressure therapy, which completely corrects this condition without the use of drugs or surgery. Other treatment options are available, as well, if the patient is not a candidate for positive airway pressure therapy.”

Cady explained that studies such as these stress the importance for healthcare providers to screen their patients for obstructive sleep apnea, recommend a sleep study and encourage therapy as soon as possible to prevent long term risks from occurring.

For more information on sleep apnea, visit www.sleepcenterofgreaterpittsburgh.com, where there is an array of  educational materials available, including the Epworth questionnaire, a simple quiz that can help someone determine if they should be tested for obstructive sleep apnea.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?