A new study enforces the connection between sleep apnea and high blood pressure, but it also says there is a way to avoid the potentially deadly consequences.

Researchers have found patients with cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, heart failure and stroke have a high prevalence of sleep apnea.

The bad news is that you can have it and not know it, but there's an easy way to find out.

About 10 percent of Americans stop breathing in their sleep, sometimes up to 100 times an hour, every hour.

Most people have obstructive sleep apnea. Their tongue falls back into the throat, blocking the flow of air. Oxygen levels drop, and they wake up but go right back to sleep, and the cycle repeats

Over time, experts said, the sympathetic nervous system sets up an inflammatory response in the lining of the blood vessels.

"We think that sleep apnea is really an inflammatory disease now," said Dr. Daniel Shade, the director of the sleep lab at Allegheny General Hospital. "And over time, that will cause insulin resistance and sustained hypertension or high blood pressure."

But a C-Pap is used for continuous positive airway pressure, which helps those with sleep apnea. It keeps your airway open. One type fits over the head with pillows that fit into the nose. The tube connects to a machine and keeps air going down your airway.

Studies show the long-term benefits are normal blood pressure and less risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Sleep apnea symptoms include:

• Heavy snoring
• Periodic breathing stoppages
• Tiredness, fatigue
• Uncontrollable high blood pressure
• Daytime headaches
• Insulin resistance or diabetes

There are three types of sleep apnea, including obstructive, which is the most common. It can affect children as well as adults.

C-Pap is the most common treatment. There are surgeries, but they have risks and offer no guarantees.

If you think you have sleep apnea, get it checked out at a major hospital sleep center with board-certified pulmonary care physicians.

Published on: 18/10/2007

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