| Studies are being done on the relationship | | | | congestive heart failure were treated with a |
| between sleep apnea and congestive heart failure. | | | | CPAP machine. This treatment resulted in the |
| Patients with obstructive sleep apnea may suffer | | | | patients developing an increase in energy, less |
| damage to the right side of their heart since it | | | | fatigue and lower blood pressure. These patients |
| has to pump harder in order to support the added | | | | also experienced a more positive outlook due to |
| effort of their lungs attempting to overcome the | | | | the treatments results. |
| airway obstruction. A test was done on forty-two | | | | The National Center for Sleep Disorders Research |
| patients with heart conditions. Nearly half of these | | | | is examining whether there is a relationship |
| patients had severe sleep apnea that had not | | | | between sleep apnea and congestive heart failure |
| been diagnosed prior to the study. | | | | along with high blood pressure and chest pain. |
| Sleep apnea is a major health syndrome affecting | | | | Some researchers have suggested that apnea |
| millions of people. Up to 95% of these people do | | | | may cause heart problems. |
| not know that they have it and may never know. | | | | It is possible that central apnea can cause high |
| There is effective treatment for apnea but many | | | | blood pressure, surges of adrenaline and irregular |
| people may find it difficult to find the appropriate | | | | heart beats. Central sleep apnea occurs when the |
| qualified medical care. Sleep apnea is the frequent | | | | brain fails to send a signal to breathe. It is not |
| stoppage of a persons breathing which relaxed | | | | caused by obstruction or snoring. |
| tissues in the throat cause during sleep. Snoring | | | | Sleep apnea sufferers have a higher risk of death |
| occurs by vibrations of the relaxed throat tissues | | | | than the rest of the population. Problems include |
| and is usually the precursor for apnea. Heavy | | | | sleep apnea and congestive heart failure, high |
| snorers and people who have pauses in their | | | | blood pressure, stroke, depression and as |
| breathing could be at risk for heart disease. Sleep | | | | mentioned before death due to accidents. The |
| apnea and congestive heart failure may also be | | | | sleep apnea sufferer's family has a difficult time |
| behind many traffic deaths of people over forty. | | | | dealing with the illness. Other issues outside of |
| The most serious cases of untreated sleep apnea | | | | home are affected such as difficulties at work |
| patients have an increased chance of having a | | | | caused by constant sleep problems. |
| fatal traffic accident. | | | | In conclusion, people with sleep apnea and |
| A Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) | | | | congestive heart failure should consider treating |
| machine, which helps people with sleep apnea, | | | | their sleep apnea might just help their chances of |
| may also help people with coronary artery | | | | surviving heart disease. Sleep apnea is long |
| disease that experience their blood oxygen | | | | overdue for more attention; it is the second |
| lowering during disordered breathing during sleep. | | | | leading cause of daytime fatigue after insomnia. |
| Congestive heart failure affects approximately 2.5 | | | | Getting a poor sleep is a major health problem |
| million Americans. A study was done with several | | | | that needs to be addressed sooner rather than |
| obese patients who had both sleep apnea and | | | | later. |