Our Sleep Apnea Blog

In a study by researchers at Yale University and reported at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in 2007, obstructive sleep apnea was associated with a 30% greater risk of heart attack and/or death over a 4-5 year period. The study followed 1,123 patients who were evaluated for sleep apnea during an overnight sleep study for 4-5 years, and recorded every incidence of heart disease (heart attack, coronary angiography, etc.) or died.

According to researchers, sleep apnea triggers the body's threat response, which distributes blood to the body in preparation for a "fight or flight" response and decreases the blood pumped to the heart. Repeated apneic events every night for years can starve the heart of oxygen, leading to the increased risk of heart failure and death.

Although sleep apnea and heart disease have common risk factors, such as obesity, this study was large enough to take that into account and adjust the findings to reflect the real risk of sleep apnea independent of other known heart disease causes.

If you have any of the symptoms of sleep apnea, it may be deadly to wait for treatment. Please contact the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Center today for a free initial consultation.