Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea and blood pressure: the hypertension connection.
Why sleep apnoea is a recognised cause of hard-to-control hypertension, and when to consider testing.
By Sámh · General sleep-health information
Obstructive sleep apnoea has been associated with hypertension in a large body of research. The relationship is particularly relevant in people whose blood pressure is difficult to control despite treatment — so-called resistant hypertension.
The Physiological Link
The mechanism is thought to involve repeated drops in oxygen and surges in sympathetic nervous activity across the night, which raise vascular tone and stress the cardiovascular system over time.
Clinical implications
If you have been told your blood pressure is hard to manage, discussing sleep with your clinician — and considering a home sleep test — may be worthwhile. Effective treatment of sleep apnoea can meaningfully improve blood-pressure control and reduce longer-term risk of stroke and heart disease.
Sources and further reading
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