Obstructive Sleep Apnea Increasingly Associated With Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease can pose a threat to both men and women. While a diet rich in fat and high in cholesterol as well as lack of exercise can contribute to cardiovascular disease, a study published in the March 1st issue of the journal SLEEP finds that people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at an increased risk of having cardiovascular disease.

The study, which attributes the increased link between OSA and cardiovascular disease to heightened recognition and perhaps a rising prevalence, found mounting data suggesting a potentially important causative role of OSA in cardiovascular disease, particularly systemic hypertension, bolstered by well-described pathophysiologic responses to apnea and hypopneas.

Recently published longitudinal cohort studies have strengthened previously recognized associations with stroke and mortality from cardiac events.

“There is abundant physiologic evidence implicating OSA in perpetuating, if not inticing, heart failure. In addition to their association with systemic hypertension, OSA-related stressors, including hypoxemia, increased sympathetic drive, acute surges in blood pressure, and mechanical effects of intrathoracic pressure swings, have varying effects on myocardial oxygen supply and demand, particularly in the already compromised heart,” said Sean M. Caples, DO, of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., one of the authors of the study.

For good cardiovascular health, an adequate amount of sleep and treating sleep disorders is important. Sleep apnea increases the chance for a stroke and is a risk factor for development of hypertension and heart disease. The other risk factors of heart disease are overweight and diabetes.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder in which partial or complete obstruction of airway occurs. During daytime, the muscles in the region keep the passage open. As a person falls asleep, the muscles relax to a point where the airway collapses and becomes obstructed.

The obstruction of airway occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapse and blocks the airway. Breathing stops for ten seconds or more due to the blockage of airway which prevents air from getting into the lungs.

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 airway.

It happens hundreds of times during night increasing the risk of heart disease. Due to the disrupted sleep, the person may wake up unrefreshed in the morning.

In addition to cardiovascular problems, other symptoms of OSA include hypertension, concentration deficiency, daytime sleepiness, stroke and diabetes.

Obstructive sleep apnea can occur in men and women of any age but it is common in overweight people. 4 percent of men and 2 percent of women have obstructive sleep apnea and many more people are undiagnosed.

For obstructive sleep apnea, there are safe treatments available. The effective treatment without the use of surgery is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP machine delivers air into your airway through nasal mask.

The flow of air creates enough pressure to keep your airway open when you inhale. Therefore it prevents the pauses in breathing and restores the normal oxygen levels. If you think that you are suffering with sleep apnea, discuss your problem with the doctor.

For more detials visit:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=64260

http://www.journalsleep.org/