Heart Failure and Complications from Sleep Apnea
There are many serious medical concerns from sleep apnea but now a study had linked serious and fatal complications for patients with heart failure. People with sleep apnea experience decreased or interrupted breathing during which the brain is oxygen deprived and not able to send out the messages to the respiratory muscles to inhale and exhale. Breathing can stop for several seconds or as much as a minute. Since these episodes can happen frequently during the night, it causes a special worry for people who suffer from heart problems.
Serious Concerns
Anyone who has heart failure should take note of the complications that can occur if sleep apnea is also present. A basic definition of heart failure is a disorder in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood per minute to supply the entire body’s need for oxygen and essential nutrients. The key word here is oxygen. In both sleep apnea and heart failure, the person’s supply of oxygen is reduced. When both conditions are present in a person, the failure of meeting necessary oxygen requirements is doubled to a dangerous degree.
A person suffering from heart failure is at a higher risk of dying during an episode of sleep apnea. The lower oxygen level in the body may also damage major organs as well as resulting in psychological problems from insufficient sleep.
What Can Be Done?
You can be helped if you have both of these conditions. A mild diuretic and respiratory stimulant called acetazolamide is now being prescribed. When taken before bedtime, this drug may improve oxygen levels to help lessen sleep apnea problems. People participating in a study taking this prescription drug, were less tired and had better concentration during the daytime.
This medical study has been groundbreaking because previously, there wasn’t considered to be a solid concern between heart failure and sleep apnea. Now, doctors are aware of the doubling effect each of these conditions has on a patient, through their combined effect on oxygen levels. Patients who are being treated for heart failure should also consult with their doctors about the possibility of sleep apnea being present.
Most people aren’t even aware that they have sleep apnea. Being properly diagnosed and treated will give you a better, safer night’s sleep.
Tags: Health