Sleep apnea is a condition marked by abnormal breathing during sleep. People with sleep apnea have multiple extended pauses in breath when they sleep.  There are three types1 of sleep apnea, including obstructive sleep apnea(OSA), central sleep apnea(CSA), mixed sleep apnea. OSA is much more common than CSA. Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect between 2-9% of adults(1) in the United States.

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with multiple major stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes. It is also an independent risk factor for stroke. Luckily, treatments for obstructive sleep apnea are available. Treating sleep apnea earlier can lead to greatly reduced risks of stroke as well as improvements in the quality of life and overall health and well-being.

Several studies have established OSA as a strong risk factor for high blood pressure(hypertension), one of the leading risk factors for stroke(2).Sudden drops in blood oxygen levels that occur during sleep apnea increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. Having obstructive sleep apnea increases your risk of high blood pressure

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Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) is common among patients with atrial fibrillation(AF). Growing evidence suggests(3) that OSA is associated with the initiation and maintenance of AF. This association is independent of obesity, body mass index and hypertension. OSA not only promotes initiation of AF but also has a significant negative impact on the treatment of AF. Patients with untreated OSA have a higher AF recurrence rate with drug therapy, electrical cardioversion and catheter ablation. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) has been shown to improve AF control in patients with OSA.

Atrial fibrillation(AF) increase the risk of stroke by 5-fold, and more than 40% of all strokes in patients older than 80 years are attributable to AF(4).In AF, the chaotic rhythm may cause blood to pool in the heart’s upper chambers(atria) and form clots. If a blood clot forms, it could dislodge from the heart and travel the brain. There it might block blood flow, causing a stroke.

Wellue holder monitor: This portable monitor tracks the heart’s electrical activity over 24 hours. It’s useful because atrial fibrillation events may not happen all the time. The data can be easily shared with the doctors.

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Studies suggest(5) (6)that obstructive sleep apnea is independently associated with alterations in glucose metabolism and places patients at an increased risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes. The oxygen desaturation index is the main determining factor(7).

For those who have been diagnosed with diabetes,self-testing the blood sugar (blood glucose) can be an important tool in managing the diabetes and preventing complications. Wellue Checkme Suit enables at-home blood sugar testing every day.

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People with sleep apnea can live long, healthy lives, free from heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. Recognizing the connection between sleep apnea and stroke is the first step towards lowering stroke risk. Here are more tips:

Work with your doctor to manage your sleep apnea and other stroke risk factors, such as hypertension and high cholesterol.

Limit your alcohol consumption.

If you smoke, quit.

Maintain a healthy diet.

Add regular exercise to your routine.

If you think you’re having a stroke, seek emergency help right away.

It’s very important to evaluate the effectiveness of sleep apnea treatments at home. When a sleep apnea event happens, the blood oxygen level(pulse oximetry reading: SpO2) drops. Overnight blood oxygen level fluctuation can be used to monitor the ongoing treatment(9).

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Trusted Source:

1. National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information: Obstructive Sleep Apnea
https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/pulmonary-disorders/sleep-apnea/obstructive-sleep-apnea
2.PubMed: Prospective study of the association between sleep-disordered breathing and hypertension.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10805822/
3.PMC: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and Atrial Fibrillation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4711541/
4.PubMed: Association of atrial fibrillation with mortality and disability after ischemic stroke.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23902702/
5.PubMed: Obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes: interacting epidemics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18252916/
6.PubMed: Obstructive sleep apnea: an unexpected cause of insulin resistance and diabetes
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24582098/
7.PubMed: Obstructive sleep apnea is independently associated with insulin resistance
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11874812/
8.NVBI: Diabetes and Stroke: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Pharmaceuticals and Outcomes
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5298897/
9.PMC: The Role of Overnight Pulse-Oximetry in Recognition of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3869111/yndrome in Morbidly Obese and Non Obese Patients