{"id":24479,"date":"2024-03-25T08:48:22","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T07:48:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/?p=24479"},"modified":"2024-03-25T09:09:27","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T08:09:27","slug":"sleep-apnea-and-atrial-fibrillation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/sleep-apnea-and-atrial-fibrillation\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Snoring and frequently gasping for air while you\u2019re sleeping may point to sleep apnea, a common health condition which may affect your quality of life and trigger other health conditions. In this article, you\u2019ll find more information about this condition and its impact on the heart.\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is sleep apnea?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects approximately 936 million adults<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> all around the world. This condition can happen to anyone, but mostly men aged over 50 are affected. If you have sleep apnea, then your <\/span><b>breathing stops and restarts several times while you\u2019re asleep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Some people with sleep apnea may not notice any symptoms apart from feeling tired. Others may <\/span><b>snore or gasp <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">during their sleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep apnea can have a serious impact on your health, as your body can\u2019t receive enough oxygen throughout the night. Some <\/span><b>common consequences of sleep apnea<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concentration and memory issues<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health issues such as depression and lack of motivation\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/the-connection-between-high-blood-pressure-an-irregular-heart-rhythm-and-stroke\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High blood pressure<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart failure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart rhythm conditions such as<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/atrial-fibrillation-what-are-the-symptoms\/\"> atrial fibrillation<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/what-is-a-stroke-or-cerebral-infarct\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stroke<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kidney disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sexual dysfunction<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleep apnea can have several causes. Most often, it happens when there is something blocking the upper airway so that air can\u2019t pass anymore. This can be due to <\/span><b>obesity, large tonsils or hormonal issues<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Another, less common cause may be health conditions that affect the way your brain controls your breathing. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<div class=\"vcex-spacing wpex-w-100 wpex-clear\" style=\"height:15px;\"><\/div><figure class=\"vcex-image vcex-module wpex-clr\"><div class=\"vcex-image-inner wpex-relative wpex-inline-block\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wpex-align-middle\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-iStock-157570461-scaled-500x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-iStock-157570461-scaled-500x600.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-iStock-157570461-scaled-250x300.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-iStock-157570461-854x1024.jpg 854w, https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-iStock-157570461-768x921.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-iStock-157570461-1281x1536.jpg 1281w, https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-iStock-157570461-scaled.jpg 1708w\" width=\"500\" height=\"600\"><\/div><\/figure>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the link between sleep apnea and heart health?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies have shown that <\/span><b>obstructive sleep apnea can increase the risk of heart failure by 140%, the risk of stroke by 60%, the risk of atrial fibrillation by 25%, and the risk of coronary heart disease by 30%.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> On the other hand, approximately 62% of atrial fibrillation patients have obstructive sleep apnea, which underlines the importance of a collaborative approach including regular heart health checks in this population.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>connection between sleep apnea and heart health<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is still being researched, but studies show various links:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re experiencing issues with your breathing throughout the night, your <\/span><b>autonomic nervous system<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (the part of your brain that acts automatically) causes the <\/span><b>blood vessels to tighten<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which decreases the flow of oxygen. This often goes combined with an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, which may eventually lead to high blood pressure. High blood pressure is an important factor for cardiovascular disease.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Higher levels of endothelin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (a molecule which helps regulate blood pressure by tightening your blood vessels) and <\/span><b>lower levels of nitric oxide<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (a molecule which helps regulate blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels) have been noticed in people with sleep apnea. This can cause higher blood pressure as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent studies have shown that the lower levels of oxygen may cause <\/span><b>oxidative<\/b> <b>stress and inflammation to the cells of the blood vessels,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which also leads to cardiovascular disease. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">When the brain doesn\u2019t receive enough oxygen due to sleep apnea, you can wake up abruptly. This causes <b>stress on the heart muscle which can contribute to the development of atrial fibrillation<\/b>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What can be done about sleep apnea?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, then it\u2019s important to talk to your healthcare provider. After discussing your symptoms and medical history, your physician may opt for a <\/span><b>sleep study<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. During such a study, your heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen levels, and brain waves will be monitored while sleeping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After you\u2019ve been diagnosed, your sleep apnea can be treated by using a <\/span><b>continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, in combination with <\/span><b>lifestyle changes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It is also necessary to <\/span><b>work on the cause of your sleep apnea.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><br style=\"font-weight: 400;\" \/>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FibriCheck as a versatile tool for heart health management<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At FibriCheck, we are convinced that a <\/span><b>multi-disciplinary approach<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> taking into account various comorbidities for heart health conditions is beneficial for both patients and healthcare providers. With our technology, <\/span><b>users can follow up on their heart rate, heart rhythm and blood pressure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which are all important parameters for heart health. For those with sleep apnea, FibriCheck can be a valuable addition to your health management, as the effects of sleep apnea on the heart can <\/span>easily be followed up over time.[\/vc_column_text]<div class=\"vcex-spacing wpex-w-100 wpex-clear\" style=\"height:15px;\"><\/div><figure class=\"vcex-image vcex-module wpex-clr\"><div class=\"vcex-image-inner wpex-relative wpex-inline-block\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wpex-align-middle\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mockup-of-a-man-using-an-iphone-11-in-vertical-position-m13712-r-el2-1-900x600.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mockup-of-a-man-using-an-iphone-11-in-vertical-position-m13712-r-el2-1-900x600.png 900w, https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mockup-of-a-man-using-an-iphone-11-in-vertical-position-m13712-r-el2-1-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mockup-of-a-man-using-an-iphone-11-in-vertical-position-m13712-r-el2-1-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mockup-of-a-man-using-an-iphone-11-in-vertical-position-m13712-r-el2-1-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mockup-of-a-man-using-an-iphone-11-in-vertical-position-m13712-r-el2-1-1536x1024.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/mockup-of-a-man-using-an-iphone-11-in-vertical-position-m13712-r-el2-1.png 1920w\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\"><\/div><\/figure>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research into sleep apnea and heart health<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Clinical studies are continuously being conducted in order to find out more about sleep apnea and its effect on the heart<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This way, scientific advancements can be made, which can improve the detection and the outcome of sleep apnea as well as the consequences it may have on your body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At FibriCheck, we are committed to innovation and driving scientific advancements. <\/span><b>Our technology is being used in various studies that investigate sleep apnea<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> STAROSA study,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in which patients who have atrial fibrillation are asked to use (cardio)respiratory polygraphy devices (NOX-T3) and a Fitbit with FibriCheck\u2019s technology in order to see whether a structured testing and treatment program for obstructive sleep apnea can have an impact on the proportion of atrial fibrillation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mini VIR-SAAF<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a study using FibriCheck, sensors for sleep apnea diagnosis (NightOwl) and physical activity (SENS Motion) in order to see whether sleep apnea detection in patients with atrial fibrillation can be done in a fully remote setting.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to know more about FibriCheck and its possibilities? Visit <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/<\/span><\/a><br style=\"font-weight: 400;\" \/>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">References<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200b\u200b<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncoa.org\/adviser\/sleep\/sleep-apnea-statistics\/#:~:text=Approximately%2039%20million%20U.S.%20adults,kidney%2C%20and%20metabolic%20health%20complications.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.ncoa.org\/adviser\/sleep\/sleep-apnea-statistics<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/sleep-apnea#:~:text=Sleep%20apnea%20is%20a%20common,body%20from%20getting%20enough%20oxygen.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/sleep-apnea<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/sleep-deprivation\/health-effects\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.nhlbi.nih.gov\/health\/sleep-deprivation\/health-effects<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2546461\/#:~:text=Obstructive%20sleep%20apnea%20increases%20the,coronary%20heart%20disease%20by%2030%25.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2546461<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrsonline.org\/documents\/atrial-fibrillation-and-sleep-apnea\/download\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.hrsonline.org\/documents\/atrial-fibrillation-and-sleep-apnea\/download<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/classic.clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT06263608\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/classic.clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT06263608<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT06188247?term=FibriCheck&amp;page=2&amp;rank=11\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/NCT06188247?term=FibriCheck&amp;page=2&amp;rank=11<\/span><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Snoring and frequently gasping for air while you\u2019re sleeping may point to sleep apnea, a common health condition which may affect your quality of life and trigger other health conditions. In this article, you\u2019ll find more information about this condition and its impact on the heart.\u00a0[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] What is sleep apnea?\u00a0 Sleep apnea is a common&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":24487,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation ","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn more about the impact of sleep apnea on the heart.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24479"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24479"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24517,"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24479\/revisions\/24517"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24487"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fibricheck.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}