Effects of Sleep Apnea on the Heart
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes breathing to slow or even stop temporarily during rest. If you sleep beside a person who snores loudly and continuously, it could be more than just an annoying habit. Most people with sleep apnea don't even realize they stop breathing at night. They simply carry on the day's activities feeling fatigued, which is the one common symptom of the condition. While feeling fatigued may seem minor, sleep apnea is also dangerous for the heart.
Types of Sleep Apnea
Before explaining the effects on the heart, it's important to know the two types of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the muscles in the throat, and it is the most common form of the condition. When they relax, the throat muscles block airways, and the lack of oxygen to the brain signals it to awaken. The brief interruption of sleep is short, and the patient may not remember it.
Central sleep apnea is less common, but it involves a malfunction in the signaling from the brain. During sleep, the brain has a momentary delay in transmission signals to your breathing muscles. It causes a slight pause in breathing, and your body awakens with shortness of breath or headaches.
Blood Pressure
There are links between sleep apnea and heart disease. When oxygen diminishes in the blood, the levels of carbon dioxide are raised. The increased levels of carbon dioxide signal the brain, telling it to increase the heart rate. The brain reacts by releasing the body's fight or flight hormone called epinephrine (adrenaline). The increased circulation of epinephrine increases heart rate and ultimately raises blood pressure.
Heart Failure
The changes of heart rate lead to malfunctioning of the heart. Continuous heart rate changes are damaging to the heart muscle tissue. The swings in heart rate changes combined with chronic lack of oxygen can damage the heart tissue leading to heart attack and heart disease.
Arrhythmias
The increase in blood pressure also leads the arrhythmias. The heart has two atria and two ventricles that work in coordination to pump oxygenated blood through the arteries. Arrhythmias occur when the action potentials of the heart fire irregularly causing erratic beats. Mainly, the heart's upper chambers (the atria) beat chaotically. This is known as fibrillation, and it leads to improper blood output to the body.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is caused by the buildup of calcium lining the arteries of the heart. The increase in blood pressure from sleep apnea makes these blood vessels more susceptible to the disease from the damaged tissue and lack of oxygen. Coronary artery disease leads to sudden heart attack or stroke.
Tags: effects, sleep, apnea, heart, sleep apnea, heart rate, lack oxygen, blood pressure, carbon dioxide, Effects Sleep
