Untreated sleep
apnea is serious – it increases your risk for high blood pressure,
heart attack, and stroke. It also contributes to learning and memory problems,
poor job performance, depression and a higher risk for car crashes and accidents.
Why does sleep apnea increase the risk for heart attacks and stroke?
During deep sleep, your heart rate and blood pressure drop. This allows your
heart to rest. The pattern of snoring, pauses in breathing and then gasping
or choking for air that happen with sleep apnea prevent you from getting the
kind of restful, deep sleep your body needs. This can result in high
blood pressure.
When your blood pressure is high, your heart is working too hard. This can
lead to heart attack or stroke. More than half of people with untreated sleep
apnea have high blood pressure. If sleep apnea isn’t treated for a long
time, your heart begins to wear out because it has to pump harder to cope with
the lack of oxygen caused by repeated pauses in breathing.
What about lifestyle changes?
Lifestyle changes – like losing weight and exercising – are important
ways to reduce symptoms and can also help reduce
other risk factors for heart disease and stroke. If you have mild sleep
apnea, some lifestyle changes may get rid of the symptoms altogether. In more
severe cases, it can help to reduce the symptoms. Here are some of the things
you can do:
- lose weight if you are overweight
- don’t smoke
- sleep on your side instead of on your back
- stick to a regular sleep schedule
- avoid caffeine, alcohol and sleeping pills.
Further reading
About
sleep apnea: what is it?
Defines sleep apnea (sometimes called obstructive sleep apnea) and explains
the effects it has on people. Describes how sleep apnea is diagnosed and treated.
Source: Canadian Lung Association
From: Sleep apnea
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