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Posted on February 3, 2009 by Donald Saunders | Posted under Health and Fitness
Sleep Apnea Is Accompanied By Many Serious Health Problems
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Researchers are looking more and more at why the above conditions are connected with problems erupting in the upper airways of people suffering from sleep apnea. It is well known that smoking, excessive weight and the overuse of alcohol are important factors in sleep apnea and lead to a greater likelihood of developing heart disease and hypertension. What is not clear however is why many people who do not have any of these elements in their lifestyle still have sleep apnea. Whenever breathing ceases during a sleep apnea episode the blood shows increased levels of carbon dioxide and decreased oxygen levels. Accordingly, several chemical and physical events occur within the body that then raises the possibility of other problems arising in the body. In people with sleep apnea who are also overweight researchers have discovered that they have high levels of immune factors known as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). High levels of these factors can produce serious inflammation that can cause cell damage, especially within the arteries. In one study it was found that people with elevated tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels suffered from excessive tiredness, shortness of breath and a weak heart-pumping action. But it must be said that at this point no clear causal relationship has been established between obstructive sleep apnea and heart disease. A number of studies have been conducted to examine hypertension and sleep apnea and a connection has been found between the two. For instance, a study performed in 2000 examined patients over a four year period and reported that the more sleep apnea episodes they experienced during the first year the greater was the chances of developing hypertension by the third or fourth year. Even in those who snored or who experienced only mild sleep apnea there was a small but still higher than normal association with hypertension. In the past the connection between high blood pressure and sleep apnea was considered to be strongly linked to obesity. But recent studies are pointing to the fact that hypertension is seen particularly in people who suffer from sleep apnea no matter how much they weigh. Blood pressure has an effect on sleep apnea simply because it changes tremendously during repeated sleep apnea episodes. These changes are also connected to changes by way of sudden surges that occur within the sympathetic nervous system. This system controls involuntary muscle movements and especially those in the heart and blood vessels. It is now strongly believed that as time passes these changes may play a significant role in the development of permanent long term hypertension. About The Author: Help-Me-To-Sleep.com offers detailed information about a wide range of sleep disorders including insomnia, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, jet lag and sleep apnea. |
Tags: SLEEP APNEA, SLEEP APNIA, SLEEP APNEA SYMPTOMS, SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT, SLEEP DISORDERS
