Save a Heart, Identify Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
April 3rd, 2009 by Jerusha MichaelThis week the CleveMed Sleep Disorders Division traveled to Orlando, FL to attend the American Cardiologist Convention. If you wondered what brings a sleep division to a cardiology conference, this article presents educational tools just for you. For an interactive presentation to learn about sleep apnea and the cardiovascular system go to: www.clevemed.com/cardiology. Request a free information package at SaveAHeart@CleveMed.com
Screenshot of CleveMed's educational interactive presentation about Sleep Apnea and Cardiology. Save a heart, Identify Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a serious chronic disorder affecting more than 15 million Americans. Patients with sleep apnea stop breathing numerous times during the night, which fragments their sleep and stresses the cardiopulmonary system during what is supposed to be a restful and regenerative period. The result is worsening of many heart and lung diseases that often coexist with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has many forms, like Obstructive (OSA), Central (CSA), and Complex (CompSA). OSA is the only form with an effective treatment - forcing air into the patient’s upper airways via a mask to keep the pharynx open (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure – CPAP). Central or Complex apnea events often coexist with OSA. CSA and CompSA, are strongly linked to serious heart and lung diseases.
Here are just a few interesting numbers:
- 71% of all patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease have sleep apnea3
- OSA patients have diminished heart rate variability and increased BP variability1
- Treatment of coexisting OSA by CPAP can eliminate recurrent hypoxia and reduce nocturnal BP and heart rate1
- OSA treated by CPAP resulted in a 58% reduction in the frequency of ventricular premature complexes during sleep1
CleveMed’s educational interactive presentation at www.clevemed.com/cardiology:
- Find more stats & facts from documented studies on sleep apnea and the cardiovascular system
- Engage in the events of a case study and meet the physician who treated the case
- View a video on sleep disorders diagnostic devices
- Request a free information package on sleep apnea and the cardiovascular system by emailing SaveAHeart@CleveMed.com
1. V. K. Somers, D. P. White, R. Amin, W. T. Abraham, F. Costa, A. Culebras, S. Daniels, J. S. Floras, C. E. Hunt, L. J. Olson, et al.Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Disease: An American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research Professional Education Committee, Council on Clinical Cardiology, Stroke Council, and Council on Cardiovascular Nursing In Collaboration With the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (National Institutes of Health) Circulation, September 2, 2008; 118(10): 1080 - 1111. 2. Bradley TD, Floras JS. Sleep apnea and heart failure. Part I: obstructive sleep apnea. Circulation (2003) 107:1671–1678. 3. Floras JS, “Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure: Implications of Sympathetic Nervous System Activation for Disease Progression and Treatment.” Current Heart Fail Reports 2005;2(4) :212-217.
This post also draws on the experience of several experts at CleveMed.
Tags: cardiology, cardiovascular disease, case study, heart, sleep apnea
April 14th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Agree and I led this area with Respironics (sleep as it relates to CVD) but to date there isn’t good clinical research studies (randomized, blinded, with a large sample size) showing results in treating sleep apnea and improvement in patients cardiovascular outcomes, e.g., improvement in ejection fractions or leveling thereof, CAD improvements, arythmia improvements. About the only thing you can find is improvement in refractory hypertension which is thought to potentially improve things like stroke, AMI’s, etc but no good data actually showing this. Good luck! The only way in my opinion that sleep apnea (Obstructive and Neuro) will make a significant acceptance amongst cardiology referrals for sleep studies or home studies leading to therapeutic modalities is by having a good outcome based study on therapeutic treatment that leads to a PMA approval. We were on track to do this at Respironics until the CEO pulled the plug on it (had trial in place w sites, etc) because of study costs and time to complete. Good luck! I’m a believer!
April 15th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Michael,
Your time is greatly appreciated!
First of all, thanks for commenting
CleveMed is actually currently involved in some clinical studies with Cleveland Clinic and John Hopkins Hospital: http://www.clevemed.com/clevemed_newsreleases/2007_presurgical_inpatient_NIH_grant.shtml
April 17th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
This is interesting since its focused on the hemodynamics of the heart muscle affected through the primary sleep disorder. Many patients require a multi-disciplined approach to either situation since the cardio-pulmonary systems are so interdependent. The American Association of Respiratory Care has many journal articles concerning treatment of CHF with CPAP and BiLevel Ventilation (non-invasive). Hypoxia due to peripheral vascular disease, artherosclerosis, sleep disordered breathing requires testing, xrays and blood work to determine the primary pathology involved. Home testing through a cardiologists consult for sleep disordered breathing would generally be screened first and foremost with an overnight pulse oximetry trend. Desaturations and documentation of the AHI and events pertaining to arrhythmias would only confirm severity upon the cardiac muscle and provide the necessary data to consult the Pulmonologist or Sleep Specialist.
April 30th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
This stuff is so important, I remember having dreams of dieing because I was snoring and breathing insufficiently until I had some laser surgery that got rid of that problem. I only have a little problem with stress and not sleeping right because of that. I was out blogging yesterday and came across this awesome sleep better site:
http://letslivelonger.blogspot.com/2009/04/sleep-better-you-can-do-it.html
I feel so much better, thank you!
May 15th, 2009 at 12:52 am
You’ve got my interest
June 10th, 2009 at 2:08 am
Keep up the great work on this blog, Great writing! P.S. I just love your theme, where did you get it
June 25th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Interesting..
September 9th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
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December 23rd, 2009 at 6:28 am
[...] Epidemiologic studies have linked sleep apnea with potential, long-term cardiovascular risk. [...]