Untreated Sleep Apnea can Affect Your Heart Health

Nearly 30 million American adults are kept from a restful sleep by untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a chronic disease that involves the repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep.

Untreated, moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can double your risk of dying from heart disease, reports a new study.

According to the AASM, there are five key warning signs and risk factors for sleep apnea: snoring, choking or gasping during sleep, fatigue or daytime sleepiness, obesity (BMI of 30 or higher), and high blood pressure.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Overview
Obstructive sleep apnea should be suspected in overweight middle aged adults who snore loudly and which can cause interruption of breathing for 10 seconds or more and this results in reduced blood o

‘Did you know that sleep apnea impacts heart health? Moderate and severe sleep apnea is linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. ’
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“We estimate that about 23.5 million Americans have undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, which increases their risk for heart problems,” said AASM President Dr. Kelly A. Carden. “Anyone who experiences snoring, choking, or gasping during sleep should talk to a medical provider about their risk for sleep apnea.”

The AASM warns that untreated, severe obstructive sleep apnea hurts HEARTS by increasing the risk of:

H – Heart failure

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Sleep is the blissful state that rejuvenates our mind and body everyday and any deprivation often leads to a disorder that can affect our health

E – Elevated blood pressure

A – Atrial fibrillation

Sleep Apnea Linked to Diabetic Retinopathy
Sleep apnea is linked to damage to the retina of the eye in diabetics. It causes a fall in blood oxygen levels, insulin resistance, macular edema, which damages the retina.

R – Resistant hypertension

T – Type 2 diabetes

Possible Mechanism of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Tetraplegia Identified
Mechanism of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in tetraplegic patients identified with potential applications in development of targeted therapies, as well as future research.

S – Stroke

If you or a loved one has any of the symptoms of sleep apnea, you should speak with your medical provider or reach out to an AASM-accredited sleep center.

Source-Newswise