Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease
Submitted by New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Fri 06/24/2011 - 07:42
Many fatalities among people in their 40s and older are attributed to heart disease and transportation accidents. Many researchers now say that this may actually be related to an unseen epidemic of snoring and sleep apnea. OSA, or sleep apnea is the frequent stoppage of breathing caused by relaxed tissues in the throat during sleep. Snoring is caused by vibrations of the relaxed throat tissues and is often the precursor or companion of sleep apnea. Although effective medical treatment for sleep apnea exists, this information has not entered routine medical practice nor does the public recognize the dangers. And, many people are not well-educated on the symptoms of sleep apnea.Unfortunately, even when apnea is suspected, it may be difficult to obtain qualified care. As a result, 95 percent of the millions of people who suffer from sleep apnea have not and may never be diagnosed, let alone treated. Nevertheless, the informed person with sleep apnea can take the initiative to get appropriate treatment and take the steps necessary to assure recovery. Some cardiological problems associated with sleep apnea are known and their risk may be diminished by treatment of the sleep apnea.
- People with coronary artery disease whose blood oxygen is lowered by sleep-disordered breathing may be at risk of ventricular arrhythmias and nocturnal sudden death.
- Sleep disordered breathing, including apnea, may cause coronary artery disease and hypertension.
- In obstructive sleep apnea, often marked by snoring, the right side of the heart may suffer damage because it has to pump harder to support the extra effort of the lungs trying to overcome the obstruction of the airway. When 42 patients with heart failure were tested in a sleep laboratory, almost half had severe apnea, which had not been previously recognized.
- Sleep apnea may cause high blood pressure, surges of adrenaline, and irregular heartbeats.
New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions is a sleep disorder center in West Orange, New Jersey, serving snoring sufferers throughout New Jersey in Livingston, Millburn and Short Hills. Call New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions today for a free consultation at 855.WHY.SNORE or 855.949-7667.
