How Untreated Sleep Apnea Affects Heart Health?

Millions of people around the world suffer from sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder. Though it is often linked to symptoms such as loud snoring, choking during sleep, and excessive daytime drowsiness, its effects extend beyond just sleep disturbances, especially when it comes to heart health and the cardiovascular system.
For those who experience untreated sleep apnea, the long-term consequences can be detrimental, potentially leading to various heart-related conditions.
Dr. Peter Baptista, an experienced ENT specialist based in Dubai, emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and management of sleep apnea to protect heart health and avoid severe complications.
How Untreated Sleep Apnea Affects Heart Health?
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Before diving into how untreated sleep apnea impacts heart health, it’s essential to understand what sleep apnea is. Sleep apnea is characterized by intermittent breathing interruptions during sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most prevalent type. It occurs when excessive relaxation of the throat muscles blocks the airway, restricting airflow. In central sleep apnea, a rarer type, the brain does not send the necessary signals to the muscles that manage breathing.
These pauses in breathing, ranging from a few seconds to over a minute, interrupt the natural sleep cycle and prevent the body from reaching deep, restorative sleep stages. As a result, sleep apnea can contribute to various health complications, with cardiovascular issues being among the most serious.
How Does Sleep Apnea Affect the Heart?
Sleep apnea interferes with your sleep quality and profoundly impacts your cardiovascular health. Here are several ways in which untreated sleep apnea can harm the heart:
1—Increased Blood Pressure: One of the chief cardiovascular risks of obstructive sleep apnea is its impact on blood pressure. Each time a person with sleep apnea experiences a breathing pause, oxygen levels drop, activating the body’s stress response.
This causes the blood vessels to constrict, leading to increased blood pressure, a condition known as hypertension. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to chronic hypertension, which increases the risk of heart disease significantly.
2- Heart Rate Variability and Arrhythmias: The body’s natural response to sleep apnea involves fluctuating heart rates while sleeping. When the airway becomes blocked, blood oxygen levels drop, and the body’s compensatory response involves rapid changes in heart rate to restore oxygen levels. This phenomenon is referred to as heart rate variability.
While heart rate variability is a normal physiological response, these fluctuations can become more pronounced in people with untreated sleep apnea. Over time, this can lead to arrhythmias or abnormal heart rhythms, including Atrial Fibrillation (AFib).
3- Increased Risk of Heart Disease: Research has consistently shown that sleep apnea is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Untreated sleep apnea puts ongoing strain on the heart, significantly elevating the chances of developing coronary artery disease, experiencing heart attacks, and suffering from heart failure.
The intermittent lack of oxygen puts the heart under pressure, leading to inflammation and the stiffening of the arteries, which are precursors to heart disease. Research has indicated that people with untreated sleep apnea have a higher likelihood of developing heart disease compared to those without the condition.
Does Sleep Apnea Cause Chest Pain?
Chest pain is a frequent issue for people with sleep apnea. Repeated episodes of oxygen deprivation can place significant stress on the heart and lead to chest discomfort.
This discomfort may resemble the chest pain associated with heart conditions like angina, and the increased heart rate can also trigger it during apnea episodes. Although chest pain from sleep apnea is not the same as the chest pain caused by a heart attack, it should not be ignored.
Does Lack of Sleep Increase Heart Rate?
Sleep is essential for the body to recover and recharge, and a sleep deficiency can lead to extensive consequences for both mental and physical well-being. When sleep is compromised due to sleep apnea, the body cannot undergo the necessary restorative processes.
As a result, the sympathetic nervous system (the “fight or flight” system) is activated, leading to increased heart rate and higher blood pressure.
This disruption in standard heart rate patterns can contribute to cardiovascular problems over time, particularly in individuals who already suffer from hypertension or other preexisting heart conditions.
Poor sleep can worsen other heart disease risk factors like diabetes and obesity, setting off a harmful cycle for cardiovascular health.
The Sleep Apnea Long-Term Effects on Heart Health
The consequences of leaving sleep apnea untreated over time are deeply troubling for heart health. Without intervention, people with sleep apnea are at a greater risk of:
1- Chronic High Blood Pressure: As previously mentioned, repeated fluctuations in blood oxygen levels raise blood pressure, contributing to a heightened risk of stroke, heart disease, and kidney problems.
2- Increased Risk of Heart Attack: Sleep apnea that isn’t treated can heighten the likelihood of a heart attack by stressing the heart over time and limiting the oxygen reaching the heart muscle.
3- Congestive Heart Failure: Ongoing sleep apnea may contribute to the development of heart failure, a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood efficiently.
4- Stroke: The irregular heart rhythms and high blood pressure resulting from sleep apnea increase the risk of stroke, a significant cause of disability and death.
Managing Sleep Apnea to Protect Your Heart
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, it is essential to seek diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Peter Baptista emphasizes the importance of early intervention to prevent the harmful long-term effects of untreated sleep apnea on heart health. Treatment options include:
1- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): The most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, CPAP therapy uses a machine to keep the airway open while sleeping, allowing for a restful and uninterrupted night’s sleep.
2- Lifestyle Changes: Weight loss, limiting alcohol and sedative use before sleep, and sleeping on your side can significantly lessen sleep apnea symptoms.
3—Surgical Intervention: When sleep apnea is caused by underlying anatomical issues, surgery might be necessary to correct them.
The connection between untreated sleep apnea and heart health is undeniable. Sleep apnea can elevate blood pressure, increase the risk of heart disease, and raise the likelihood of stroke, making it a critical condition that demands prompt attention and treatment.
If you’re experiencing symptoms like loud snoring, choking, or gasping for air during sleep, don’t delay—reach out to Dr. Peter Baptista for expert guidance to safeguard your heart and improve your overall well-being.
Dr Peter Baptista Jardin
European Board Certified ENT Doctor In Dubai
Dr. Peter Baptista Jardin is an ENT specialist with a special interest in treating sleep apnea. He is a revered expert in Spain for performing the first ever robotic transoral surgery in 2011, and the only series of hypoglossal nerve stimulation proved revolutionary for obstructive sleep apnea treatment worldwide. He currently serves as an ENT doctor in Dubai’s Al Zahra Hospital.