While we don’t know for sure that sleep apnea actually causes heart disease, there is a clear connection between the two. The prevailing theory is that when sleep apnea patients stop breathing for brief periods at night this causes oxygen levels in their bodies to fall. This, of course, causes the blood vessels to “tighten up” in order to increase the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain. This carries over into the waking hours, which often results in cases of higher blood pressure. Sleep apnea is indirectly connected to incidences of high blood pressure. Using CPAP treatment for sleep apnea may help reduce blood pressure and be beneficial for other cardiovascular conditions in some patients.
How CPAP Can Help Lower Blood Pressure
There are a number of treatment options available for sleep apnea. The most common treatment dentists use for treating sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure or the CPAP. This involves wearing a mask at night. The machine sends air into the person’s airway through the mask. By forcing air into the airway, it causes it to open up and allows the patient to breathe continuously. If heart disease and high blood pressure are tied to sleep apnea in some patients, it stands to reason that this treatment can improve their cardiovascular health.
CPAP Solutions & Treatment Options
If you are a dentist who treats patients with sleep apnea, Dr. Steven Greenman and the DSM Solutions team can provide you with information on CPAP and other treatment options to help patients with sleep apnea and help reduce high blood pressure. They are Westlake Village, CA dental sleep medicine consultants, and they specialize in sleep apnea and similar sleep disorders. Contact DSM Solutions today for more information.