CPAP Clinic Sleep Blog

Understanding your sleep health, sleep apnea and CPAP therapy

Does Sleep Apnea Trigger Heart Disease?

Many medical researchers believe there is a strong link between sleep apnea and the development of heart disease.

This sleep disorder, which causes lapses in breathing that range from 10 seconds to one minute in length, strains the heart organ and may also contribute to a range of other serious health issues, including chronic fatigue, depression, and stroke.

Protecting your heart health through proper sleep apnea treatment is very important – especially if heart disease appears in your family medical history. Other risk factors for heart disease include smoking, improper diet, diabetes, high cholesterol, stress, and obesity.

Sadly, untreated sleep apnea may also trigger diabetes and contribute to weight gain. Therefore, this obstructive sleep disorder is often at the root of many health problems that eventually tax the heart and bring on bona fide heart disease.

Recognize the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Luckily, there are many ways to diagnose and treat obstructive sleep apnea; one of the best ways to begin is to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of this sleep disorder.

For example, if you snore, you are a prime candidate for sleep apnea. If you gasp during sleep, as through you are struggling to get enough air, you’re likely living with undiagnosed sleep apnea.

Chronic daytime fatigue, constant mental fog, and mood swings related to exhaustion are also red flags that sleep apnea is affecting your mind and body. Lastly, sleep apnea may cause frequent headaches…especially in the morning, right after you’ve woken up.

How to Protect Your Heart Health with Sleep Apnea Treatments

Sleep Apnea treatments regulate night-time breathing, relieving strain on the heart. CPAP machines are sleep apnea treatments that are carefully designed to give your body and brain the right amount of oxygen while you sleep.

These machines are attached to soft, comfortable nasal masks that ensure proper breathing the whole time you are asleep. Without these important health accessories, it may be impossible to reduce the negative side effect of sleep apnea…including the stress that this sleep disorder puts on the heart.

Types of CPAP Machines

Today’s high-tech CPAP machines are designed to work with your lifestyle; for example, the compact unit pictured above (DeVilbiss Auto-PAP : IntelliPAP Auto-Adjust CPAP) is perfect for travel or home use.

Other popular CPAP machine styles offer built-in heated humidifiers that ensure proper moisture levels while you snooze.

Modern CPAP machines also offer hypo-allergenic air filters, data management software, and built-in alarm clocks. A range of CPAP replacement parts and CPAP accessories are also available to add even more value to your CPAP machine investment. Your sleep apnea treatment equipment may be covered by your medical insurance.

The benefits of using CPAP machines to reduce the threat of heart disease are myriad; while adjusting to your new machine may take a few days, it’s well worth the effort. Without proper sleep apnea treatment with CPAP products, you may be taking chances with your health.

To find out more, contact a sleep apnea treatment specialist today.

 

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