Sleep & Your Heart The connection between sleep and the heart is continuously evolving. Generally, a correlation is seen among those with sleep apnea and those who develop life-threatening cardiovascular issues.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Commonly indicated by the presence of snoring, Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the absence of airflow due to a blocking of the upper airway lasting 10 seconds or more, regardless of the sufferer's continual effort to breathe. The number of episodes in an hour that a person undergoes will determine the severity of the condition.

It is imperative that those who think they may be suffering from OSA to see their healthcare provider or call the SleepCenter as soon as possible. Effective treatment of sleep apnea not only results in better overall sleep, but also may decrease the risk of developing other potentially life-threatening conditions. A large percentage of people suffering from sleep apnea go undiagnosed.

However, when treated, blood pressure improves and the risk of heart failure is significantly reduced. This is because one's blood pressure will increase during the episodes of non-breathing, as the oxygen level decreases. Because this happens on a nightly basis, these symptoms tend to carry over into the daytime - even when the person is breathing normally.

This drop in oxygen levels is believed to be linked to other conditions as well, including:

• Heart failure
• Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
• Coronary artery disease
• Stroke
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Hypertension
• And More

Fast Facts about Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Sleep-disordered breathing, or SDB, has been associated with various forms of cardiovascular disease:

• Individuals with severe SDB are two- to four-times more likely to develop complex arrhythmias than those without SDB
• Individuals diagnosed with OSA are between two and three times more likely to develop hypertension.
• The prevalence of OSA in patients with heart failure is estimated at 40 to 70 percent.
• Individuals with diagnosed OSA are more likely to suffer a stroke than those without OSA.
• Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent in patients with SDB independent of other risk factors.