{"id":317,"date":"2019-08-30T17:46:05","date_gmt":"2019-08-30T17:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.weatherfordsleep.com\/blog\/?p=317"},"modified":"2019-08-30T17:46:06","modified_gmt":"2019-08-30T17:46:06","slug":"protect-your-heart-by-stopping-sleep-apnea-in-weatherford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.weatherfordsleep.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/30\/protect-your-heart-by-stopping-sleep-apnea-in-weatherford\/","title":{"rendered":"Protect Your Heart by Stopping Sleep Apnea in Weatherford"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Heart<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Heart disease is\nprobably one of the most well-known leading causes of death for men and women.\nThe CDC estimates that roughly 610,000 Americans die of heart disease each year\n(which is almost a quarter of total deaths in the country). There are many\ndifferent risk factors for this condition, but there\u2019s one in particular you\nmight not even be aware of until it\u2019s too late: sleep apnea<\/a>\nin Weatherford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Usually breathing is automatic while you\u2019re asleep, but it\ncan be interrupted either because the airway is blocked or because the brain\nfails to send the correct signals to the proper muscles. If this happens\nrepeatedly, it\u2019s a disorder called sleep apnea. When breathing is interrupted\nduring a sleep apnea \u201cattack\u201d, your body will wake you up to get some oxygen;\nthis happens quickly enough that you usually won\u2019t remember it happening, but\nit can occur multiple times during the night. As a result, you won\u2019t get the\nbenefits of a full night\u2019s sleep and are likely to feel exhausted and irritable\nthe next day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does Sleep Apnea Affect the Heart?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you suddenly stop breathing, oxygen levels in the body\ndecreases, causing your blood pressure to rise. This can put serious strain on\nyour cardiovascular system, and the longer sleep apnea lasts without being treated,\nthe more damage is done. The heart\u2019s walls begin to thicken, changing its\nstructure and making it stiffer and less flexible. As a result, you\u2019ll be at a\nhigher risk for heart failure, stroke, and other potentially fatal conditions.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Will You Know if You Have Sleep Apnea?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is loud,\ndisruptive snoring. In most cases, a spouse or a roommate will notice this\nissue long before you\u2019re even aware of it. They might also notice that you periodically\nstop breathing or gasp for air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live on your own, sleep apnea is a lot harder to\ndetect, but you might notice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n