Serious Complications of Sleep Apnea for Heart Failure Patients

There are many serious medical concerns from sleep apnea but now a study had linked serious and fatal complications for patients with heart failure. People with sleep apnea experience decreased or interrupted breathing during which the brain is oxygen deprived and not able to send out the messages to the respiratory muscles to inhale and exhale. Breathing can stop for several seconds or as much as a minute. Since these episodes can happen frequently during the night, it causes a special worry for people who suffer from heart problems.

Serious Concerns

Heart failure patients need to be aware of extra complications from sleep apnea. Heart failure is simply defined as a disorder where the heart isn’t able to pump enough blood to supply the amount of oxygen needed by the body and essential nutrients. Oxygen is the most important thing here. In both sleep apnea and heart failure, there is a decreased supply of oxygen. If a person has both conditions, the lack of supply of oxygen is doubled and that can be dangerous.

This raises the risk of a patient with heart failure dying during a sleep apnea episode. Additionally, this lower level of oxygen throughout the body can cause serious damage to major organs as well as contribute to psychological problems that result from a lack of restful sleep.

What Can You Do?

If you have both heart failure and sleep apnea, there are ways to help you. Because of a recent study, doctors are now prescribing acetazolamide, which is a mild diuretic and respiratory stimulant. This prescription drug is taken before going to bed and it has been shown to improve oxygen levels and to diminish sleep apnea problems. People who participated in this study noted they were less tired during the daytime and they were better able to concentrate.

Until this study, there wasn’t a major known concern between heart failure and sleep apnea. Now doctors are aware of the problems that could happen due to the extra drop of oxygen levels. If you are suffering from heart failure you may want to consult with your doctor if you suspect you may have sleep apnea as well.

Most people aren’t even aware that they have sleep apnea. Being properly diagnosed and treated will give you a better, safer night’s sleep.

About the Author:

Are you wondering what you can do about sleep apnea and snoring? A look at some sleep apnea statistics will tell you that you’re not the only one dealing with it. Find out how to identify sleep apnea as well as some of the treatments for it on the Apnea Guide website.