How Obstructive Sleep Apnea Affects Your Heart Health

 

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a medical condition in which your breathing stops at night during sleep because of narrowed or blocked airway passages. Individuals who are affected by OSA may be prone to heart disease if sleep apnea treatment is left untreated. It puts more strain on your heart and blood vessels.

 

How To Identify I Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Following are the obstructive sleep apnea symptoms:-

 

Daytime sleepiness

Feeling exhausted or tired throughout the day, especially when not sleeping well at night.

Loud snoring

If you snore loudly at night during sleep, especially with breaks.

Pause in Breathing

If you’ve ever noticed gaps or pauses in your breathing during sleep accompanied by choking or gasping.

Morning Headaches

Frequent headaches in the morning could be a red flag for OSA.

Difficulty in Concentration

Unable to concentrate on work throughout the day to perform daily routine activities.

Mood Swings

Getting irritated with mood swings such as anxiety and depression without any reason may be an indicator of OSA.

High Blood Pressure

Being detected with high blood pressure while performing routine exams may indicate OSA.

 

If you find any of the symptoms mentioned above, you must visit a sleep apnea clinic immediately without wasting time.

 

Night Struggle

While dealing with OSA, the airway passages blocked partially or entirely cause an individual to wake up at various times during the night because of breathing interruptions. The affected person may experience this breathing difficulty several times during the night, restricting them from falling into deeper or good night rest. This is a night struggle that affected individuals have to go through OSA.

 

Connection Between Heart Health and OSA

Research studies have found a strong connection between OSA and heart health. The frequent pauses of breathing at night disturb oxygen levels and put stress on the cardiovascular system. The variations in oxygen levels may cause various heart-related issues over time.

 

Risk of Hypertension

Consistent trouble breathing during sleep can cause stress hormones to be released, which enhances the risk of developing blood pressure.

Strain on Heart

Oxygen levels drop during OSA episodes, which strain the heart, increasing chamber size and affecting its functionalities. Over time, this strain may lead to heart conditions like heart failure.

Irregular HeartBeats

OSA can cause irregular heartbeats due to fluctuations in oxygen levels and increased heart stress, potentially leading to severe consequences.

Heart Failure Risk

If OSA is left untreated for a long period, it can enhance the risk of heart failure. 

 

The Importance of Diagnosis and Treatment

If you experience issues like daytime fatigue, loud snoring, or breathing interruption while sleeping, it’s essential to take a great step towards consulting with sleep apnea specialists or dentists. You need to seek a proper diagnosis and obstructive sleep apnea treatment at the right time because this is a matter of sleep that functions in different body parts.

 

Wrapping It Up

A strong connection between heart health and OSA plays a signficant role in influencing the harmony between the two. Getting OSA treatment on time improves your sleep quality and protects you from heart disease and other long-term issues. So, never take your sleeping habits lightly, especially during the night. The best part is that with sleep apnea oral appliance, many people can get a good night's sleep of at least 8 hours a day.