The value of a restful night’s sleep is frequently overlooked in our busy lives. We usually forgo those valuable hours of sleep as we balance obligations to our families, jobs, and social circles. However, what if your sleep disturbance is actively damaging your heart rather than merely leaving you exhausted? Yes, if you have sleep issues due to sleep apnea, it may cause heart problems as well.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a dangerous sleep disease that causes breathing to stop and start again while you’re asleep. These pauses, known as apneas, occur hundreds of times a night and can last anywhere from a few seconds to over a minute. The most common kind, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when your airway narrows or shuts down entirely due to excessive relaxation of the muscles in your throat.
How Does Sleep Apnea Cause Heart Problems?
The link between sleep apnea and cardiac issues is much more alarming and sometimes overlooked, even though the symptoms of loud snoring, gasping, and daytime weariness are well-known. Your cardiovascular system may be repeatedly strained by these breathing disruptions, which can result in a number of major health problems.
This nighttime fight translates into serious cardiac risks in the following ways:
Hypertension
One of the most obvious and frequent connections is high blood pressure or hypertension. The oxygen levels in your blood decrease every time you stop breathing. When your brain detects a deficiency of oxygen, it instructs your blood vessels to narrow and your heart to beat more vigorously in order to obtain more oxygen.
Irregular Heartbeats
Arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, can seriously damage your heart’s electrical system because of the frequent changes in oxygen levels and adrenaline spikes brought on by breathing difficulties. Several cardiac rhythm problems, most notably atrial fibrillation (AFib), may result from this. AFib, a prevalent kind of irregular heartbeat, raises the risk of heart failure, stroke, and other heart-related issues.
Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
Sleep apnea causes high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, and heart strain, all of which increase the risk of atherosclerosis, a disorder in which plaque accumulates in the arteries, narrowing them and limiting blood flow. Your risk of heart attacks and strokes is greatly increased by this.
Worsening Heart Failure
Sleep apnea can make heart failure worse for people who already have it. Insufficient oxygen and the additional pressure on the heart make it more difficult for the already weak heart to pump blood efficiently.
Treat Sleep Apnea As Soon As Possible
The good news is that there are treatments for sleep apnea. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most popular and successful treatment. It entails wearing a mask that gently pushes air into your airway while you sleep. Oral appliances, lifestyle modifications (such as losing weight, if relevant), and in certain situations, surgery are other choices.
Ending Note!
You may considerably lessen the load on your heart, maintain optimal blood pressure, improve heart rhythm, and eventually minimize your chance of major cardiovascular events by successfully treating sleep apnea. It’s an investment in a longer, healthier life as well as a better night’s sleep.
Consult our experts at Smile 360 Family Dentistry right now to prevent your heart health from being silently stolen by your sleep. Call us at (909) 980-4878 to book your appointment.