Sleep Apnea, Snoring Problem, Snoring Solutions

Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that results in poor sleep quality and can lead to daytime fatigue or sleepiness, forgetfulness, and irritability. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are 3 types of sleep apnea to be aware of as follows:

  • OSA or obstructive sleep apnea is the more common form of the disorder and affects roughly 30% of American adults as well as up to 5% children ranging from infants to teenagers. OSA occurs when the muscles of the throat become too relaxed and block airflow into the lungs.
  • CSA or central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the right signals to the muscles responsible for controlling our breathing.
  • Complex or treatment-emergent sleep apnea occurs when an individual receives OSA therapy and the disorder converts to CSA.

Research has suggested that one of several health consequences of the condition is sleep apnea blood pressure-related issues.

What is Hypertension?

More commonly referred to as high blood pressure, hypertension occurs when the force that pumps your blood is higher than the normal 120/80. In most cases, individuals with high blood pressure are unaware of it until they find out from their doctor during a medical exam. Like high blood pressure, individuals who have sleep apnea don’t know they have the disorder until their doctor suggests undergoing a sleep study or their partner or spouse expresses their concerns about the symptoms the person is having.

Most individuals are unaware of the relationship between sleep apnea and high blood pressure. Consequently, it’s important to understand how these two conditions are related and can have an effect on one another. Fortunately, hypertension can be managed effectively with lifestyle changes and medication. And like sleep apnea, the treatment for both conditions can reduce your risk of experiencing more serious health problems and the consequences thereof.

How are Sleep Apnea and High Blood Pressure interrelated?

Of the 3 types of sleep apnea, OSA is the only one that’s been linked to hypertension. Although OSA is only prevalent in 4% to 7% of Americans, it affects up to 40% of those individuals with hypertension. Of all the diagnosed cases of OSA, it’s been estimated that nearly half are affected by high blood pressure. With healthier individuals, their blood pressure typically decreases from 10% to 20% during sleep. This is commonly referred to as “blood pressure dipping.”

On the other hand, individuals with sleep apnea blood pressure-related issues do not experience a dip in their blood pressure patterns. As a result, they could eventually face serious cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, many OSA patients often experience a sudden and more pronounced increase with their blood pressure upon awakening in the morning. This blood pressure surge factor elevates their risk for experiencing future cardiovascular problems. Additionally, clinical studies have shown that daytime blood pressure levels increase according to the severity of their sleep apnea.

Effects of OSA on Blood Pressure

When an individual’s breathing slows down or stops like it characteristically does with OSA, their heart rate decreases as well. During a sleep apnea blood pressure-related experience, your adrenaline surges and triggers other reactions in the central nervous system when you breathe and causes a rapid acceleration of your heart rate. As a result, you experience a sudden increase in blood pressure. When you continue to have these sleep apnea episodes, your blood pressure stays chronically elevated.

Not only has it been proven that sleep apnea and hypertension are interconnected, but the Cleveland Family Study is one of the forerunners in investigating environment and genetic factors that are associated with health outcomes and sleep apnea. The study included participation of over 2,000 people from four hundred families. The study found that there was ample evidence linking hypertension with sleep apnea. Additionally, it was seen that genetic predisposition influenced hypertension that was related to developing sleep apnea, if left untreated.

Another study termed as Apnea Positive Pressure Long-term Efficacy Study (APPLES) highlighted the effect of CPAP therapy, one of the gold standards of treating sleep apnea, with blood pressure. The trial included about one thousand individuals that were suffering with sleep apnea. It was found that CPAP therapy lowered both diastolic and systolic blood pressure, even in people with severe sleep apnea. It strengthened the premise that CPAP therapy not just improved the sleep quality of people suffering with sleep apnea, but lowered the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure.

The Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) has highlighted the correlation of cardiovascular health, including hypertension, with sleep apnea. The clinical trial included over 6000 individuals that were part of the study for many years. The study concluded that sleep apnea was associated closely with hypertension or high blood pressure. One of the results that was of immense importance in the SHHS was that the night-time patterns of the blood pressure were different in those individuals that suffered with sleep apnea. Many of them didn’t find any drop in the blood pressure at night. This is an abnormal pattern that gives rise to risk of developing a range of cardiovascular diseases. The long-term health consequences of chronically elevated blood pressure elevate your risk of the following:

  • heart attack
  • kidney failure
  • stroke
  • vascular dementia

If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can also elevate the risk of other serious health conditions including:

  • abnormal heartbeat or arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation
  • abnormal liver function
  • heart failure
  • impaired immune system function
  • type 2 diabetes

OSA can also lead to other complications when given general anesthesia and can significantly compromise proper breathing after undergoing a surgical procedure. There are numerous treatments available for sleep apnea and high blood pressure whether they are interrelated or not. Where sleep apnea-related snoring is concerned, one of the more effective ways to temporarily alleviate the problem is by using Asonor Anti-snoring Spray. Thus, you can nip the problem in the early stages and stay healthy.

To learn more about this clinically proven effective product, e-mail your questions to [email protected] or visit our website today.

 
 
 

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