Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease
Sleep apnea, along with its most common symptom, snoring, is more than just an annoyance. Some evidence suggests sleep apnea increases your risk of heart disease,
high blood pressure, possible heart failure, stroke, abnormal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation), and heart attacks.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing stops or gets shallow temporarily. These pauses in your breathing can occur dozens of times each hour while you sleep, sometimes 200 to 300 times in severe cases. This is often recognized by a partner who is awakened by loud snoring and gasping for air, symptoms of this disorder. As many as 20 million people suffer from sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea and Heart
Sleep apnea increases your risk of heart disease due to lack of oxygen. 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. These substances, as well as the release of others that can eventually damage the lining of your body’s blood vessels, might eventually cause or worsen high blood pressure and other forms of cardiovascular disease or heart problems that include:
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Failure
- Heart Rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Stroke
Holy Redeemer Sleep Disorders Center, accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, offers advanced, comprehensive services and the most current diagnostic and treatment techniques available to help identify and treat a wide-range of sleep-related issues.
The Sleep Disorders Center is staffed by board-certified pulmonary physicians, neurologists, and otolaryngology physicians, studies are monitored by an experienced staff, which includes registered sleep and respiratory therapists. Our team uses the latest equipment and conducts studies in a relaxing, hotel-like atmosphere – complete with queen-sized beds –
in the sleep lab. Our team collaborates to diagnose and treat the following:
- Sleep apnea
- Heavy Snoring
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Narcolepsy
- Other sleep-wake cycle disturbances
The evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders is covered by most insurance companies (HMOs will require a physicians referral). For more information on the Holy Redeemer’s
Sleep Disorders Center or to make an appointment with a sleep disorders specialist,
call 215-938-3448 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
