Sleep Apnea is a major risk factor for many types of cardiovascular disease, such as elevated blood pressure, stroke, coronary artery disease, and heart attack (myocardial infarction). However, other than pointing to risk factors, science hasn’t been able to do much in the way of making a direct correlation between measurements of sleep apnea and the actual occurrence of cardiovascular disease.
Now a new study suggests that’s because we’ve been going at it wrong all along.
What Is Apnea-Hypopnea Index?
Apnea-hypopnea index simply measures the number of times your breathing stopped or slowed down significantly while you slept. If you had between five and 15 events per hour, your sleep apnea is defined as mild. If it happened between 15 and 30 events per hour, your sleep apnea is defined as moderate. If you have more than 30 events per hour, your sleep apnea is defined as severe.
Other Variables Predict Heart Attacks
However, when researchers looked at the correlation between AHI and heart attack or other cardiovascular disease, they found that the correlation was not as good as might be hoped. Instead, other variables seemed more predictive.
The strongest correlation seemed to be between heart disease and time spent below 90% oxygen saturation. Other factors, such as leg movements, time spent sleeping, heart rate, and daytime sleepiness, didn’t correlate as well.
This led researchers to recommend that a more complex definition of sleep apnea be utilized.
Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
No matter how your sleep apnea is defined, preventing it depends on getting a successful oral appliance for sleep apnea treatment that you will actually use.
To learn what is the best sleep apnea treatment for your condition, please contact the Advanced Dental Sleep Treatment Center in Omaha today.
