CPAPSupplyUSA.com celebrates American Heart Month this February! As we all know, untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea can have a very detrimental effect on one's heart. Left untreated, sleep apnea can cause enlargening of the heart, high blood pressure, and weakening of the heart muscle. During periods of apnea, the heart works overtime to provide oxygen to the parts of the body that are being deprived. Over time, as the heart works harder and harder each night, damage can be seen to the muscle.
The Mayo Clinic sums up the connection between heart disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnea very well in their article "Sleep Apnea: Can it cause heart disease?":
"When your oxygen level drops, your carbon dioxide level increases. Your brain senses trouble and tells your body to release adrenaline-like substances into the bloodstream — the so-called fight-or-flight reflex — which increases blood pressure, thus the link to sleep apnea and high blood pressure.
Because of low oxygen, your body also releases other substances that can eventually damage the lining of your body's blood vessels, and it's this damage that might eventually cause or worsen high blood pressure and other forms of cardiovascular disease or heart problems. These include:
- High blood pressure. Sudden drops in blood-oxygen levels that occur during sleep apnea increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. About half the people with sleep apnea develop high blood pressure (hypertension). "The only thing we can say for certain right now is sleep apnea increases your risk of high blood pressure," Dr. Somers says. While high blood pressure itself increases the risk of various forms of heart disease, there's speculation that sleep apnea also plays a more direct role in heart disease.
- Heart failure. Sleep apnea may increase the risk of heart failure because of the swings in blood pressure that occur during sleep apnea. This, combined with reductions in oxygen to heart tissue, might damage heart muscle. If you already have heart failure, this repeated stress to the heart might make things worse.
- Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). Arrhythmias occur when the electrical impulses in your heart that coordinate your heartbeats don't function properly, causing your heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. One of the more common types of arrhythmias thought to be associated with sleep apnea is atrial fibrillation. This occurs when the heart's two upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically and irregularly — out of coordination with the two lower chambers (the ventricles) of the heart. It's unclear how sleep apnea might increase the risk of arrhythmias, but the increase in blood pressure may play a big role.
- Coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is caused by the gradual buildup of fatty deposits in your coronary arteries (atherosclerosis). As the deposits (plaques) slowly narrow your coronary arteries, your heart muscle receives less blood. Eventually, diminished blood flow may cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath or other symptoms. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack. Sleep apnea may increase your risk of coronary artery disease because of the swings in blood pressure that occur during sleep apnea. This, combined with dips in oxygen levels in your blood, might make your blood vessels more susceptible to damage.
- Stroke. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of your brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Within a few minutes, brain cells begin to die. It's thought that damage and stress to your blood vessels, possibly caused by blood pressure and oxygen changes from sleep apnea, might make you more prone to a stroke."
Information provided by the American Heart Association can help you recoginize the warning signs of a heart attack in their "Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs" article:
"Statistics
Coronary heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious disability. That's why it's so important to reduce your risk factors, know the warning signs, and know how to respond quickly and properly if warning signs occur.
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
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Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1.
Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too. It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room.
If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away. If you're the one having symptoms, don't drive yourself, unless you have absolutely no other option."