Treat Sleep Apnea to Reduce Heart Disease Risk

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where there are abnormal stops (interruptions) in breathing or abnormally low breathing during sleep. Each stop (or pause) in breathing is called an apnea. This apnea can last anywhere from a few seconds to minutes and can occur repeatedly throughout the night.

Sleep apnea results in excessive daytime tiredness, impaired alertness, slower reaction time, vision problems, and behavioral effects (i.e. moodiness, belligerence, decreased attentiveness).

Increased Risk for Sleep Apnea

Here are a few characteristics that put you at increased risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea:

Excess weight – Excess fat deposits around the upper airway can obstruct breathing.

Large neck circumference – A neck circumference above 17 inches is linked to increased risk because the thicker neck may narrow the airway.
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