American Heart Month
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. That is why we dedicate the month of February to spreading awareness about the importance of heart health.
American Heart Month is a great time to become educated on what you can do to improve your heart health. One of the best things you can do to help your heart is to have quality sleep each day. However, there is something that prohibits thousands of people from getting a good night's sleep. Sleep apnea.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person's breathing repeatedly starts and stops during sleep. Sleep apnea affects how much oxygen your body gets while you sleep and increases the risk for many health problems, including high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Understanding how sleep apnea can affect your cardiovascular system is key to improving long-term heart health.
Sleep apnea narrows or blocks your airway, which can restrict the airflow to your lungs. This process can cause a person to snore loudly or gasp for air while they sleep. These pauses in breathing can occur a few times a night or, in severe cases, repeatedly throughout your sleeping cycle. Snoring is sleep apnea's calling card or snoring is your body's cry for help
The repetitive pauses in breathing can stress and potentially damage the heart and the entire cardiovascular system. It is important to know that sleep apnea is more common than you think. In fact, one in ten adults suffers from at least mild sleep apnea. So how can you tell if you are one of the many struggling with sleep apnea?
A Life-changing Equation
Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but many who have sleep apnea do snore regularly and loudly. Find yourself having difficulty sleeping or have low energy levels? There may be something preventing you from getting a quality night's sleep.
Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of heart arrhythmias and cardiovascular disease. In a lot of ways sleep apnea is a ticking time bomb. It's estimated that patients with sleep apnea are four times more likely to develop heart issues than people without this condition. Sleep apnea increases the risk of heart failure by 140% and the risk of coronary heart disease by 30%.
A Working Nose + Better Sleep = a Healthier Heart. There are many simple solutions to help you get on results you want and that will put you on top of your sleeping and breathing issues. Doing so can lead to many long-term benefits for your heart and overall health. American Heart Month allows you to get the support you need to live your best life.
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