The Relationship Between Sleep Apnea And High Blood Pressure

According to Mayo Clinic research findings, individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea are at high risk for developing blood vessel impairment. The impairment in blood vessels may eventually cause a heightened blood pressure level and heart disease. The study was conducted in alliance with University of Iowa researchers. During the study, endothelial function of obese individuals was compared to a control group. The study significant shows a negative relationship between sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

The Study's Findings

The endothelium (cells which line blood vessels) is damaged as a result of few health complications such as diabetes, high cholesterol, congestive heart failure, sleep apnea and high blood pressure. The study further suggested, reinforcing previous studies, that while this endothelial impairment is caused by high blood pressure and other related health complications, the impairment in endothelium can lead to blood pressure elevation as well.

The study further suggested that even the other factors like high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure may not be present; sleep apnea may independently cause endothelial damage. Hence, the study argued that sleep apnea may promote a long-term possibility for developing endothelium damage, high blood pressure and heart disease. So, sleep apnea and high blood pressure have an indirect, however causal relationship between them.

Conclusions

Obstructive sleep apnea and high blood pressure have strong correlation. In addition, the presence of untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of heart failure and death. While the relation between sleep apnea and high blood pressure is quite evident, the mechanism governing the association is still not clear.

The individuals with sleep apnea experience severe recurrent hypoxemic stress when they sleep. In addition to this stress, they also experience reflexive sympathetic activation and subsequently distinct increases in blood pressure leves. The occurrence of hypoxemic stress, reflexive sympathetic activation and an increased blood pressure level may lead to endothelial damage, while posing a possible threat for developing cardiovascular disease.

Possible Treatment Suggested

Since the study results confirmed that elimination of risk factors contribute to the restoration of endothelial function, the researchers concluded that the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea may possibly bring the same effect. The treatment of hypertension and high blood pressure improves the condition of endothelium. It may be possible to find out that treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea will be able to remove the nightly blood pressure spikes and oxygen deficiency that can cause more serious heart problems.

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