Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea Can BeLife Threatening (NAPSA)—Here’s news many may find eye-opening: Untreated, severe obstructive sleep apnea more than doubles your risk of dying from heart disease, the National Healthy Sleep Awareness stated that moderate and severesleep apnea are associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. ‘The authors of the AHAstatement recommendedthat a public health campaign addressing sleep behavior should be launched to promote ideal cardiac health. Project warns. To raise awareness of this and to urge individuals with symptomsofsleep apnea Damage Control Fortunately, treatments for obstruc- to talk to a doctor about their risk, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Sleep Research Society (SRS) and other partners created the “Sleep Apnea Hurts Hearts” campaign. “Obstructive sleep apnea is a dangerous disease that can severely damage your heart if left untreated,” said Dr. Ronald Chervin, president of the AASM. “With millions of sufferers remaining undiagnosed, it is critical to raise nationwide awareness about obstructive sleep apnea so that it can be treated with CPAP therapy, which can reduce the risk of cardiovascular death” Nearly 30 million American adults are kept from restful sleep by obstructive sleep apnea, a chronic disease that involves the repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep. According to the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project, there are five key warning signs and risk factors for sleep apnea: snoring, chokingor gasping during sleep; fatigue or daytime sleepiness; obesity (BMI of 30 or higher) and high bloodpressure. tive sleep apnea are available. Follow- It may comeas a surprise to some but loud snoring can suggest that your heartis at risk. A certified sleep medicine physician can help. health. The National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project warns that untreat- ed, severe obstructive sleep apnea hurts HEARTSbyincreasing therisk of: H—Heartfailure E—Elevated blood pressure A—Atrialfibrillation R—Resistant hypertension T—Type 2 diabetes S—Stroke. “Tt is clear that untreated, severe ob- structive sleep apnea may have a dev- astating impact on heart health,” said Janet B. Croft, Ph.D., senior chronic Millions of people with sleep apnea disease epidemiologist in CDC’s Division of Population Health. “Those who have symptomsof sleep apnea such as loud snoring in addition to obesity and a heart problem or high blood pressure should discusstheir risk for sleep apnea withtheir doctor” dangerous health consequences—including life-threatening effects on heart ment on sleep duration andquality, which Severe Damage remain untreated, which can lead to The American Heart Association (AHA)recently released a scientific state- ing diagnosis by a board-certified sleep medicine physician, the most common- ly prescribed treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure therapy—or CPAP. This treatment uses mild levels of air pressure, provided through a mask, to keep the throat open while you sleep. According to a recent meta-analysis of 27 studies involving more than 3 million participants, the risk of cardiovascular mortality was reduced to normal levels in people with sleep apnea who weretreated with CPAPtherapy. ‘The National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project recommends that people whohave been prescribed CPAPtherapy for sleep apnea should use the treatment nightly to reduce their risk of cardiovascular death. Individuals who prefer a treatmentalternative can discuss their treatment options with a board-certified sleep medicine physician at a sleep disorders center that is accredited by the American AcademyofSleep Medicine. Learn More To find an accredited sleep center nearby or to learn how you can guardyourheart from sleep apneato avoid being #Snoredto Death,visit www.projecthealthysleep.org.
