Did you know that individuals diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea have a much higher risk of developing heart disease? To improve the overall health of sleep apnea patients, researchers have been exploring methods to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease — including CPAP therapy.
A recent study published by the Journal of the American Heart Association concluded that treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy reduced the patients’ daytime resting heart rate by about 4.1 fewer beats per minute — helping to promote healthy cardiovascular activity, and as a result, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular Disease & Sleep Apnea
As one of the leading causes of death in the United States, individuals must take precautions to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Multiple behaviors can increase your risk of heart disease, including a lack of exercise or physical activity, eating an unhealthy diet, consuming too much alcohol, and smoking. Along with these behaviors, health conditions increase the likelihood of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.
Additionally, untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and abnormal heart rhythms. Individuals with sleep apnea are two to four times more likely to experience heart arrhythmias than those without OSA. They’re also 140% more likely to experience heart failure.
That’s why individuals with obstructive sleep apnea must get proper treatment, including CPAP therapy. A CPAP machine delivers steady, continuous pressure for both inhalation and exhalation to the individual throughout the night to ensure that their airway remains open while they sleep.
Lowering the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease with CPAP Therapy
In a study published by the Journal of the American Heart Association, 39 participants with obstructive sleep apnea and prediabetes were assigned to either in-laboratory all-night CPAP theory or an oral placebo for two weeks. Throughout the study, researchers monitored the patients’ resting heart rates using a mobile device. The study’s goal was to determine if treating sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure would reduce the individual’s resting heart rate during the day.
Following the two-week study, researchers found that the patients given CPAP therapy showed a reduced daytime resting heart rate of about 4.1 fewer beats per minute when compared to those receiving the placebo. As a result, the study concluded that identifying and treating obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP therapy could positively impact cardiovascular prevention.
Call ApneaMed If You Have Sleep Apnea & Heart Disease
Leading a healthy lifestyle is of the utmost importance when aiming to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease — but that can seem incredibly difficult if you’re constantly feeling tired and rundown from a lack of sleep. With the help of a sleep specialist, you can receive a recommended treatment plan to help alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms and improve your overall health.
The most common form of sleep apnea treatment is AutoPAP therapy. An AutoPAP machine offers both a continuous mode (otherwise known as CPAP) and an auto-adjusting mode, allowing you to determine which feels best for you. The auto-adjusting mode ensures you receive the ideal air pressure throughout the entire night, no matter the sleep stage or position you’re sleeping.
If you have sleep apnea and heart disease, you must get the proper treatment to promote a healthy lifestyle and decrease the chances of dealing with heart disease and other related health issues. ApneaMed offers a variety of home sleep tests and in-home breathing equipment to help you treat your obstructive sleep apnea and reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems. Contact our team to learn more.