Sleep Apnea and cardiovascular disease

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About sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease

Snoring is normal, but when the snorer continually stops breathing for brief moments, it potentially leads the development of cardiovascular problems that are possibly life-threatening. According to Harder (2007), this condition is referred to as sleep apnea, where a person may experience repeated pauses in breathing while sleeping. These brief moments when a person snoring experiences breathing difficulties such as gasping for air inhibits restful sleep. Kroker (2007) explains that various studies have concluded that there is a connection between sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease. Sleep apnea is associated with heart failure, arrhythmia, high blood pressure, and so on. These cardiovascular diseases also known as heart diseases are among the leading causes of death across the world.

Causes of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is sub-divided into complex, central, and obstructive sleep apnea.

i.      Obstructive sleep apnea

This condition is brought about by the relaxation of the muscles in the back of someone’s throat; where these muscles provide support for the tonsils, uvula, soft palate and so on. Merritt and Berger (2004) assert that due to the relaxation of these muscles while an individual is breathing in the airway narrows or closes. The closure of the airways makes is hard for a person to get enough oxygen hence resulting in the reduction of oxygenated blood. The brain senses the difficulty an individual is experiencing while breathing therefore briefly awakens the person from sleep so that to reopen the airways (Harder, 2007). An individual experiencing these brief moments is susceptible to gasping, choking or snorting. This pattern is constant through one’s sleep and therefore affects the ability of a person experiencing restful sleep.

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