Heart Disease and Sleep Apnea are a Dangerous Combination

Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are common in patients with cardiovascular disease such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and atrial fibrillation. A person suffering from cardiovascular disease is two-to-three times more likely to have sleep apnea, according to the Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease Study conducted by The American Heart Association. According to the study, sleep apnea can lead to or worsen heart disease. Apneas, or periods when breathing ceases during sleep, causes oxygen levels to drop and triggers a “fight or flight” response in your body which in turn causes your blood vessels to constrict and …

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