Hypertension
Why is high blood pressure ad symptom of sleep apnea?
- There is a sympathetic response in when an apnea or hypopnea occurs.
- Heart rate and blood pressure increase during each event.
- OSA patients have hundreds of events per night, thus the body remains in a constant state of elevated blood pressure.
- Because the body is not getting sufficient oxygen, it is not converting enough nitric oxide.
- Nitric oxide is a vasodilator, without nitric oxide blood vessels narrow.
- The endothelial lining of the arteries breaks down, making them more susceptible to plaque and fatty tissues building up.
- Narrow arteries with risk of blockage = high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
- OSA increase hypertension by 45%
Acid Reflux
Why is acid reflux of Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) a symptom of sleep apnea?
- When breathing is stopped, the body increases efforts to take in air.
- Abdominal contractions are exaggerated and get worse if breathing does not begin.
- These contractions squeeze the stomach and force acid up.
- Negative pressure builds up in the esophagus because of efforts to breath, this helps pull up acid as well.
Headaches
Three types of headaches have been directly linked to OSA:
- Migraine
- Cluster Headaches
- Dull Morning Headaches
- All are caused by different things, morning headaches and cluster headaches have been linked to oxygen desaturation events.
- Migraine headaches are correlated with REM and Delta sleep patterns which are severly disrupted in patients with OSA
Dental Symptoms
- OSA has been linked to nocturnal bruxism
- Clenching and bruxing occur when patients come out of an apneic event. The body activates muscles to regain control of the airway.
- Tongue thrusting and a scalloped tongue are also caused by muscle activity relating to efforts to keep the airway open.
- Anterior Tooth Wear
- Problem: Obstructed Airway Solution: Brux and activate the tongue to bring forward thereby opening up the airway
Stroke Risk
- Because of the cardiovascular damage that’s occurred because of the sleep apnea people with OSA are at great risk for heart attack and stroke.
- Mayo Clinic study from 2000-2011
- Found that cardioembolic stoke is significantly more common in patients with OSA.
- Among the OSA patients, 71.9% had cardioembolic strokes, compared with 33.3% in non-OSA patients
Neck Circumference
A large neck circumference is a clinically signficatn risk factor because the fat deposits in the neck put outside pressure on the airway tissues making it more narrow
Men – neck circumference greater than 17 is “red flag”
Women – neck circumference greater than 15.5 inches is “red flag”
Obesity
If Obesity rates continue on their current trajectories, by 2030, 12 states could have adult obesity rates above 60%, 39 states could have rates above 50%, and all 50 states could have rates above 44%
By 2030, Mississippi could have the highest obesity rate of 66.7% and Colorado could have the lowest rate for any state at 44.8%.
Get the best health care for you and your family. Call our office at 832-487-0647 or come visit us at 3421 Burke Rd #1 Pasadena Texas.