The RElationship Between Sleep Apnea & Cardiovascular Disease

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that causes a person’s breathing to be interrupted during sleep. There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructed sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes blocked, and central sleep apnea is a neurological condition in which the brain fails to signal your muscles to breathe. Although obstructive apnea is more common, both are not only disruptive to sleep, they can have serious health consequences.

According to recent research, sleep apnea dramatically increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and stroke. Keep reading to learn more about the relationship between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease and the importance of receiving accurate diagnosis and planning treatment for both conditions. 

When sleep apnea occurs and a person’s breathing stops—even momentarily—blood pressure increases, the oxygen level in your blood falls and the brain is consequently alerted. In turn, the brain sends a message through the nervous system telling blood vessels to constrict in order to increase the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain. The trouble is that what happens at night tends to continue during the day, even though you may be breathing normally.

To stop this cycle of high blood pressure and low oxygen levels, Dr. Keane Fedosky and the team at Sleep Rehab Snoring, Sleep Apnea and TMJ treat sleep apnea with top-of-the-line and FDA approved oral appliances. We use two brands of appliances, the Herbst by Gergens Lab and The Narval by ResMed. Both appliances work by repositioning the jaw and reducing airway collapse during sleep breathing. Evidence shows if sleep apnea is treated at night using an oral appliance, then blood pressure
is lowered at night and during the day.

If you suspect that you or your bed partner might have sleep apnea—and recognizable symptoms include loud snoring, gasping for breath at night, a morning headache, sore throat or dry mouth, frequent urination at night and difficulty concentrating during the day—then Sleep Rehab Snoring, Sleep Apnea and TMJ offers comprehensive treatment for sleep apnea that is non-invasive, non-surgical and non-pharmacologic.

When you come to Sleep Rehab Snoring, Sleep Apnea and TMJ, we’ll give you a sleep test to determine your sleep breathing patterns. Once we determine the issues from which you are suffering, we will create a customized oral appliance for you. Worn regularly this appliance will eliminate or reduce the effects of your sleep apnea and may help you avoid the life threatening consequences of this condition.