Hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure affects millions of people worldwide. For years, some medical providers have suspected that the two interact in a tangible way. Recently, a medical study has emerged that brings supporting evidence to this claim.
A national multi-center study from 2000 confirmed a possible connection between sleep apnea and hypertension (high blood pressure) in both older and middle-aged adults. The study, found those who suffer from moderate to severe cases were at increased risk of hypertension.
The study involved more than 6,000 adult men and women age 40 or older. The presence of the sleep disorder was detected using polysomnography, which simultaneously records brain waves, heart waves, blood oxygen levels, and breathing rate while a person sleeps. A team of technicians visited each participant at home in the evening and measured blood pressure and weight, as well as other health parameters, and then connected the person to a sleep monitor. The average number of breathing pauses per hour of sleep was used to measure the degree of sleep apnea. Continue reading ‘Hypertension and Sleep Apnea’ »