A new study warns that leaving sleep apnea untreated may accelerate heart aging and increase a person’s risk of dying early.
Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that affects people while they sleep, causing pauses and irregular patterns of breathing during sleep that can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.
It is characterized by symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, snoring, and fatigue despite ostensibly getting adequate sleep.
The exact long-term effects of this condition on the body are still under investigation and ongoing research.
In the latest study, scientists conducted experiments in a special mouse model in which the intermittent drops in oxygen levels characteristic of sleep apnea were simulated.
The researchers evaluated the effects of long-term exposure to these conditions on heart health in rodents throughout their lives.
They found that mice under these conditions had a significantly higher risk of death than mice under normal oxygen conditions.
Photos of patients undergoing CPAP (American Thoracic Society)
In particular, scientists observed clear signs of accelerated aging in the heart, including increased blood pressure, impaired heart function, reduced blood vessel flexibility, and abnormalities in the heart’s electrical activity.
These findings support the theory that the chronic stress on the body caused by untreated sleep apnea can fundamentally alter the structure and function of the heart, thereby shortening lifespan.
“Compared with controls, IH (intermittent hypoxia) mice exhibited higher mortality, increased blood pressure, impaired systolic and diastolic function, vascular stiffness, reduced coronary reserve, and electrocardiographic abnormalities,” the researchers wrote in the study.
The study highlights “how important it is to diagnose and treat sleep-disordered breathing as early as possible,” said study author Mohammad Badran of the University of Missouri School of Medicine.
“Our findings suggest that the consequences of obstructive sleep apnea extend far beyond poor sleep quality,” said Dr. Badran.
“Prolonged intermittent hypoxia imposes a cumulative burden on the cardiovascular system, accelerates biological aging and increases the risk of death,” he said.
Although the study was conducted in mice, the researchers say the findings are still relevant to human health.
“The findings send a clear message: Untreated sleep apnea is not benign. It is a progressive disease that can have fatal consequences,” said David Gozal, another author of the study.
The researchers are calling for early screening and intervention programs, including the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, a common sleep apnea treatment that delivers gentle, pressurized air through a mask while the patient sleeps.
Early intervention may be especially important in rural and underserved communities, where heart disease may also be prevalent, they say.
