Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
Complications of obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to complications over time, such as:
- Low blood oxygen levels during sleep. Low blood oxygen levels as well as other factors such as fragmented sleep may lead to high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) and in the rest of the body (hypertension).1 Nearly 50% of people who have sleep apnea have high blood pressure.2
- Heart failure. Changes in the body caused by sleep apnea appear to increase the risk of heart failure.1 Studies show that about 10% to 15% of people who have sleep apnea develop pulmonary hypertension, which may lead to right-sided heart failure.3
- Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) or heart failure, which may cause sudden death.
- Coronary artery disease (CAD).
- A greater-than-normal number of red blood cells, which may cause the blood to thicken.
- Death caused by blood vessel disease that affects the brain or heart (stroke or heart attack).
- Failure to resume breathing (respiratory failure) and sudden death, especially in the early morning (very rare).
Sleep apnea can cause some of these conditions to progress more quickly and be more difficult to treat. Treating sleep apnea may help make some of these conditions less severe.
People with sleep apnea also may be more likely to get in a car accident due to sleepiness while driving.4
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: July 9, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Mark A. Rasmus, MD - Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
from
- Facebook is now fueling organ donations
- Military women and suicide: Home safe but not sound
- Still in gear: Injuries don’t stop veterans on 100-day bike trek
- Ask Jenna: I've hit a weight loss plateau. What do I do?
- He poses in a tutu to laugh in face of wife's cancer
- After chemo hair loss, 'henna crowns' help heal
The iVillage Network