Sleep Disorders and Chronic Diseases: A Looming Connection

Patients who suffer from sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia are more likely to suffer from other chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, and depression. The co-morbidities associated with sleep apnea are even more critical now as they are considered conditions that increase vulnerability to COVID-19. A promising new study recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has shed some light on the importance of CPAP, considered the gold standard in sleep apnea therapy, and its relationship to cardiovascular health.

Groundbreaking Study Reveals CPAP's Impact on Resting Heart Rate

The randomized controlled trial was conducted over 2 weeks and studied sleep apnea patients with pre-diabetes. These patients had blood sugar levels that were elevated but not high enough to be considered diabetic. The most surprising finding from the study was that patients using CPAP had lower resting heart rates not only at night but also during the day. And the heart rate reduction of four or five beats per minute was equally significant. According to Dr. Esra Tasali, director of the Sleep Research Center at the University of Chicago Medicine and one of the study’s authors, every drop in resting heart rate helps reduce the risk of future cardiovascular disease and lowers mortality rate. Equally impressive is that a four-to-five beats per minute reduction is comparable to the benefit you would get from regular physical activity.

Unmasking the Silent Threat: Sleep Apnea's Impact on Resting Heart Rate

Resting heart rate is a crucial indicator of overall health and well-being. The chain of events that occur with obstructive sleep apnea leads to excessive daytime sleepiness and exhaustion. Still, the underlying heart damage is often not recognized by OSA patients. With OSA, the airway behind the tongue collapses, keeping air from getting to the lungs. Breathing stops and then resumes, occurring many times throughout the night. Without enough air getting to the lungs, oxygen levels drop repeatedly. The body responds by producing stress hormones, which elevate the heart rate and lead to high blood pressure. Overall, heart function decreases because it becomes less efficient at pumping blood. The heart itself is affected because of the pressure changes taking place in the chest. According to research done at the Sleep Center of the Neurological Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, 50% of people with atrial fibrillation or heart failure suffer from sleep apnea.

Overlooked Co-Morbidities: Diabetes and Obesity in Sleep Apnea

As with heart disease, diabetes is another co-morbidity of sleep apnea that is often overlooked. According to Archives of Internal Medicine, not getting sufficient sleep vastly increases the risk of diabetes. In fact, sleeping for only five hours each night more than doubles your risk for diabetes. Obesity is one of the common risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, and sleep apnea. More physicians are asking their overweight or obese patients to screen for sleep apnea because of this correlation. The good news is that once diagnosed, sleep apnea can be treated successfully with CPAP. And through continuing research, the importance of CPAP is expanding beyond the sleep apnea diagnosis and helping patients understand its role in cardiovascular health.

Learn more about how BetterNight can quickly and effectively treat your apnea patients.