Hypertension is a known symptom of sleep apnea. The Journal
of Clinical Sleep Medicine this month published a study that discovered the
risk to the heart could be even greater, with untreated obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA) increasing the likelihood of resistant high blood pressure.
Resistant hypertension is elevated blood pressure that
doesn’t respond to treatment with medication, sometimes multiple prescriptions
simultaneously. In some cases blood pressure resists treatment due to an
underlying condition, such as obstructive sleep apnea.
Seeking sleep apnea
treatment could be a critical step for making your blood pressure more
manageable. Some lifestyle changes are also an effective solution for both OSA
and hypertension, including:
- Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products – ask your doctor about the DASH diet, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension
- Reducing the amount of salt and saturated fats you consume
- Exercising regularly
- Quitting smoking
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Losing excess weight
Even minor weight loss has been linked to a drastic reduction
in the severity of sleep
apnea symptoms. By shedding extra pounds, you can limit the interference of
oversized structures blocking the airway during sleep as well as improve your
overall health, including lowering blood pressure.
To learn more about symptoms and treatment options for
obstructive sleep apnea, please contact
a local sleep doctor or call 1 (866)
727-6275 (1-8-NO-PAP-MASK)
today.