Serious Complications of Sleep Apnea for Heart Failure Patients
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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?
You can be helped if you have both of these conditions. A mild diuretic and respiratory stimulant called acetazolamide is now being prescribed. When taken before bedtime, this drug may improve oxygen levels to help lessen sleep apnea problems. People participating in a study taking this prescription drug, were less tired and had better concentration during the daytime.
This medical study has been groundbreaking because previously, there wasn’t considered to be a solid concern between heart failure and sleep apnea. Now, doctors are aware of the doubling effect each of these conditions has on a patient, through their combined effect on oxygen levels. Patients who are being treated for heart failure should also consult with their doctors about the possibility of sleep apnea being present.
Although sleep apnea is very common, most of the time people are unaware they have this disorder. A proper diagnosis and treatment plan will provide both a restful night’s sleep as well as a safer one.
