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Sleep Apnea and Overall Wellness
OSA and Your Health
Cardiovascular Disease
The link between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been well documented and includes drug-resistant hypertension, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, and angina.
Proven Links Between Sleep Apnea and Heart Conditions
An estimated 5 million Americans have congestive heart failure, and recent studies have shown that nearly half of these patients have sleep-related breathing disorders. (Javaheri et al. Circulation 1999).
How Sleep Apnea Impacts Cardiovascular Function
Sleep apnea causes hypoxia, increased intrathoracic pressure swings due to the attempts to breathe during an apneic event, and activation of the central nervous system that negatively affects the cardiovascular system.
Higher Sleep Apnea Rates Among Cardiac Patients
Sleep apnea is common in patients with cardiovascular disease; in particular, half of those who have atrial fibrillation have sleep apnea. (Somers et al., Circulation 2004) Furthermore, it is estimated that as much as 80% of the patient population with drug-resistant hypertension has sleep apnea. (Logan et al. J. Hypertension 2001).
