Untreated sleep apnea puts extra stress on the heart and makes it work harder. As the heart works harder due to untreated sleep apnea, your risk of heart attack increases. In fact, people with untreated sleep apnea have three times the risk of having a fatal or nonfatal heart problem compared to other healthy adults [1]. Thankfully, using your CPAP drastically reduces your risk of having a heart attack. Read more to learn how CPAP keeps your heart healthy.
How CPAP prevents heart attack
CPAP therapy is an effective tool to prevent heart attacks and keep your heart healthy. Sleep apnea causes the airway to close, which stops your body from getting oxygen. The shortage of oxygen causes heart rate changes, blood pressure to increase, and toxins to build up, all increasing your risk of a heart attack.
CPAP solves these problems by keeping the airway open during sleep with a steady stream of air pressure. CPAP ensures your body gets the oxygen it needs to clear toxins and other harmful substances from the bloodstream to keep blood pressure and heart rate low [1-2]. CPAP directly improves heart health by reducing inflammation, strengthening the immune system, and regulating blood clots [1-2].
All of these benefits of CPAP reduces stress on the heart, which leads to a healthier and stronger heart! Indeed, studies show that using your CPAP machine can cut your risk of having a heart attack in half over 10 years [3]. In conclusion, CPAP is an essential tool in the prevention of heart attacks and the maintenance of heart health.
References
Marin JM et al. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes in men with obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea with or without treatment with continuous positive airway pressure: an observational study. Lancet 2005.
Milleron, O., Pillière, R., Foucher, A., de Roquefeuil, F., Aegerter, P., Jondeau, G., ... & Dubourg, O. (2004). Benefits of obstructive sleep apnoea treatment in coronary artery disease: a long-term follow-up study. European heart journal, 25(9), 728-734.
Kuniyoshi FH et al. Day-night variation of acute myocardial infarction in obstructive sleep apnea. J Am Coll Cardiol 2008.
Comments