Do you ever feel you struggle to get a good night’s sleep? There are many aspects that may contribute to difficulty sleeping, but one of the more common contributing problems among adults is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has many associated risks, including hypertension. As your Bay Area sleep apnea solutions specialist, Spark Sleep strives to educate our community on the risks associated with sleep apnea and what you can do to take action.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which your breathing can suddenly stop and restart during sleep. There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and occurs when your throat muscles relax. Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain fails to send the right signals to the muscles that control breathing. Complex sleep apnea syndrome occurs when a person has both of the previously mentioned types of sleep apnea.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, fatigue (even after a full night of sleep), gasping for air while sleeping, dry mouth or headache upon waking, and insomnia. Your Bay Area sleep apnea solutions specialists can provide the testing necessary to diagnose sleep apnea.
What is Hypertension?
Hypertension also referred to as high blood pressure, is an unfortunately common condition. Blood pressure is the force at which your heart pumps blood against artery walls. When this force is too high, it is referred to as having high blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure can cause damage to your body since your heart is having to work harder to pump blood.
Risks of Hypertension
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high blood pressure increases your risk of both heart disease and stroke, which are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Other risks associated with hypertension include cardiovascular disease, aneurysms, kidney disease, heart attacks, and even heart and kidney failure.
Linking Sleep Apnea and Hypertension
So how are sleep apnea and hypertension connected? Some studies have shown that there is a link between sleeping patterns and the risk of hypertension. Those who achieve an adequate amount of quality sleep at night seem to be at a lower risk for developing high blood pressure than those who don’t. Sleep apnea can also cause undue stress on your heart when airways are temporarily blocked, causing increased blood pressure.
Your Destination for Bay Area Sleep Apnea Solutions
At Spark Sleep, it’s our mission to help you achieve the healthy night’s sleep you need and deserve. As your Santa Cruz snoring treatment and sleep apnea solutions specialists, we are prepared to work with you to find the ideal solution to what’s keeping you up at night. Contact us to learn more about the products and services Spark Sleep has to offer, and schedule your visit with us today!