Get Rid of Sleep Apnea for Better Heart Health

Successful treatment of this common sleep disorder can lower cardiovascular risk and improve your quality of life.

Published: April 15, 2022 Updated: April 18, 2022

HA PIC 3 — Of the estimated 25 million U.S. residents with OSA, it is thought that only half have been diagnosed. If your doctor thinks you might have OSA and recommends a sleep study, don’t delay. The quicker you are diagnosed, the better you will feel and the happier you are likely to be.

High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and obesity are known risk factors for heart disease. A high percentage of people with these conditions also have a sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which prevents them from getting normal, restful sleep. OSA worsens heart failure, increases the risk of heart attack, is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and stroke and may cause sudden cardiac death, yet at least half of people with the sleep disorder do not know they have it.