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Serious Complications of Sleep Apnea for Heart Failure Patients

By: Rudy Watkins

While medical researchers have already outlined the serious concerns associated with sleep apnea, a recent study links a dangerous and fatal complication for patients who have heart failure. As sleep apnea sufferers experience bouts of decreased or interrupted breathing, the brain, which is deprived of oxygen in this case, is unable to send out the necessary messages to the respiratory muscles, telling them to inhale and exhale. This causes breathing to stop for several seconds to possibly a minute. These episodes may happen many times in the course of a night's sleep, which creates a special concern for patients who are already diagnosed with 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 Be Done?

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.

Article Source: http://www.articlebankonline.com

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 the treatments for it on the Apnea Guide website.

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