Is Sleep Apnea Connected to Heart Problems?

There is a well-established relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular health. During an episode of obstructive sleep apnea, breathing is repeatedly interrupted because the airway becomes blocked. These repeated interruptions can cause drops in oxygen levels and place stress on the body’s cardiovascular system.

The American Heart Association reports that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with conditions including high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm disorders, coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, and pulmonary hypertension.

This is one reason cardiologists may recommend that patients be evaluated for sleep apnea, particularly when certain cardiovascular concerns are present. The American Heart Association specifically recommends considering screening in patients with resistant or poorly controlled hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, and recurrent atrial fibrillation.

It can be easy to dismiss loud snoring, restless sleep, gasping, or daytime fatigue as minor inconveniences. However, these can be signs of an underlying sleep disorder.

When sleep apnea goes untreated, the repeated interruptions in breathing can continue night after night. For someone who already has cardiovascular risk factors or heart disease, identifying and appropriately treating sleep apnea may be an important part of managing their overall health.

That does not mean sleep apnea is responsible for every heart condition, or that treating sleep apnea will prevent cardiovascular disease in every patient. Rather, the connection is significant enough that it deserves attention as part of a comprehensive approach to patient care.

Our relationships with cardiology partners allow us to become part of a larger healthcare team. When a cardiologist identifies possible sleep apnea concerns, a dental sleep medicine provider may be able to help evaluate appropriate treatment options.

Depending on the diagnosis and severity of the condition, treatment can include CPAP, lifestyle changes, positional therapy, oral appliance therapy, or other approaches.

For appropriate patients, an oral appliance may be an option that can help maintain an open airway during sleep. Treatment should always be based on an appropriate diagnosis and coordinated with the patient’s physicians and sleep professionals.

Our cardiology referral relationships reinforce an important point: sleep health and heart health cannot always be viewed separately.

If your cardiologist has recommended that you be evaluated for sleep apnea, it is worth taking that recommendation seriously. Identifying and treating sleep apnea may improve sleep quality and daytime symptoms, while also addressing a condition that has important associations with cardiovascular health.

At our Beverly Hills and Los Angeles dental center, working alongside cardiologists and other healthcare professionals allows us to play an important role in helping patients address sleep apnea as part of their broader commitment to long-term health.