Other Sleep Issues - Sleep and Heart Disease
Sleep-related breathing disorders have been shown to play a major role in causing several types of heart disease. Although all aspects of the relationship are not clear, there is a definite connection between sleep disorders and heart disease. Various studies have linked sleep-related breathing disorders with increased rates of high blood-pressure, increased risk of heart disease, and stroke.
Some of the most common heart problems associated with sleep disorders include:
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) : Several studies have linked Hypertension and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Hypertension is common in people with OSA, and evidence suggests that OSA can directly lead to the development of Hypertension. When a person with OSA stops breathing repeatedly at night, the drop in oxygen level and the increased heart rate and blood pressure put additional stress on the heart. These nightly increases in blood pressure eventually lead to permanent increases, even during the day.
- Coronary Artery Disease : There is a direct link between sleep-related breathing disorders and cardiovascular disease. For example, people with OSA have been shown to have higher rates of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). This is because OSA increases the risk for Hypertension (which is a known cause of CAD), and because OSA can put excessive stress on the heart and worsen an existing disease.
- Congestive Heart Failure : Sleep-related breathing disorders can both cause heart failure and develop as a result of heart failure. Congestive Heart Failure occurs when the heart is damaged so much that it cannot pump blood effectively. Studies have shown that OSA is a significant risk for the development of Congestive Heart Failure. Treating OSA can improve heart function in patients with congestive heart failure.
- Stroke : Hypertension is the most common cause of stroke, and OSA can lead to the development of Hypertension. Also, OSA may directly cause strokes, since blood flow to the brain is reduced and the level of oxygen drops during apneas (when a sleeper stops breathing). Strokes cause damage to the brain when the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain is reduced or cut off.
