5. Sleep Apnea: A Stealthy Aggravator of Afib in Women
Sleep is essential for our overall health and wellbeing. However, for individuals suffering from sleep apnea, it can be a nightly battle that significantly increases the risk of Afib.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts, leading to a drop in oxygen levels in the body. But how does this nighttime nuisance contribute to Afib?
During episodes of sleep apnea, the body is jolted out of its natural rhythm due to the lack of oxygen. This disruption causes a cascade of effects, including an increase in blood pressure and heart rate.
Such consistent fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure over time can lead to structural changes in the heart, thereby setting the stage for Afib.
Furthermore, sleep apnea often leads to repeated arousals from sleep, resulting in fragmented and poor-quality sleep. This sleep deprivation can result in an overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, the part of the nervous system responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ response. This overactivity can result in heart rhythm disorders, including Afib.
Interestingly, the relationship between sleep apnea and Afib seems to be bidirectional. Not only does sleep apnea increase the risk of Afib, but having Afib also increases the likelihood of developing sleep apnea. This complex interplay further emphasizes the need for the timely diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea in preventing Afib.
Sleep apnea is often underdiagnosed as its symptoms are easily overlooked or mistaken for other conditions. If you regularly experience excessive daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep, or abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking, it’s worth discussing with your healthcare provider. Effective management of sleep apnea often involves lifestyle modifications such as losing weight if you’re overweight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake. (5)
