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Get a FREE Report for
More Info on How
Sleep Apnea Can Be
Threatening
the Health
and Even the Life
of You or Your Loved Ones
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Apnea and Risks of First-Time & Repeated Stroke
Sleep apnea causes increased sympathetic nerve activity, increased blood pressure and lowered levels of oxygen in the blood which can lead to stroke. Research shows that 60% of patients who have had a stroke also have OSA.
A study presented at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International Conference in San Francisco, found during a 4 year study of 1,475 people, that those with moderate to severe sleep apnea were 3 to 4 times more likely to have a stroke than those who did not have it!!
Sleep apnea causes high blood pressure, which may be one reason why it increases stroke risk. Another possible reason is the effect of the fight or flight response on the body: part of the reaction increases blood clotting; these clots can cause stroke when in the brain.
Stroke patients with OSA also face a challenge in recovery. It takes a lot of energy and motivation to participate in stroke therapies and rehabilitation programs, but the excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue that goes along with OSA makes it that much more difficult, resulting in poor recovery.
Sadly, in addition to the poor functional recovery outcomes, OSA in stroke patients is also associated with a higher mortality rate one year post-stroke.
If you think you may have sleep apnea, please contact your doctor so that you can go to a sleep lab for testing. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, make sure you have proper set-up done by a professional Respiratory Therapist, and that you have a good follow-up service to help you maintain your mask properly, such as SleepAlly.com.
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