Heart disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the U.S. In fact, it accounts for 1 in 5 deaths! Indeed, you should do all you can to protect your precious heart. While things like a balanced diet and regular physical activity are certainly important, there is another aspect of heart health that you should not neglect: the quality of your sleep. In this blog post, you will learn how sleep apnea can increase cardiovascular risk and what you can do to safeguard your health.
How Sleep Apnea Affects Cardiovascular Health
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder characterized by interruptions in breathing during sleep. These interruptions, known as apneas, can last several seconds and occur repeatedly throughout the night. When your breathing is disrupted, your body’s oxygen levels drop, and your heart works harder to compensate. This increased strain on your heart can lead to significant health concerns over time.
Sleep apnea also triggers stress responses in the body. Each time your breathing stops, your brain signals the body to wake up and resume breathing. These repeated stress responses elevate your blood pressure and heart rate, putting additional strain on your cardiovascular system.
Risk Factors Linked to Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea increases several risk factors for heart and cardiovascular problems. These include:
- Hypertension: Sleep apnea has been shown to contribute to high blood pressure, which is a leading risk factor for heart disease.
- Chronic inflammation: The recurring lack of oxygen during sleep can lead to inflammation, which is associated with various cardiovascular issues.
- Arrhythmias: Sleep apnea can disrupt your heart’s electrical system, increasing the likelihood of an irregular heartbeat.
- Insulin resistance: Sleep apnea may lead to insulin resistance, which is linked to diabetes and heart disease.
It is important to understand that these risk factors do not operate in isolation. Together, they create a cumulative effect that significantly raises the likelihood of developing cardiovascular problems.
In fact, sleep apnea is strongly correlated with numerous issues, including heart attack, heart failure, coronary artery disease, stroke, and more. Without treatment, poor quality sleep can significantly increase your risk of an untimely death!
How You Can Protect Your Cardiovascular Health
If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, take steps to address it as soon as possible. You should:
- Be alert to symptoms: Symptoms such as loud snoring, choking during sleep, and excessive daytime fatigue may indicate sleep apnea. Take these signs seriously.
- Seek a professional evaluation: Speak to a healthcare provider about your concerns. They may recommend a sleep study to diagnose sleep apnea.
- Explore treatment options: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices, oral appliances, and lifestyle changes are effective ways to manage sleep apnea.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices: Try to maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking, eat a nutritious diet, stay physically active, and manage stress to support the wellness of your entire body.
Sleep apnea can lead to major consequences for your cardiovascular system! You can reduce your risk of problems by doing all you can to get high-quality rest each night.
Meet the Practice
At Aveni Dental Professionals, we can assist you with the entire process of managing sleep apnea, from initial testing to exploring your treatment options. We partner with other experts to help you get the best care at each stage of your journey. To learn more about how we may be able to play a role in protecting your health and wellness, contact our Plymouth, MA, office at 508-217-7454.