Why Getting a Good Night’s Sleep Matters for Your Health

We all know that getting a good night's sleep is an essential component of our health. Getting appropriate rest is crucial for your physical and mental health. Consistent and effective sleep has a positive impact on your immunity, cardiovascular system, hormonal function, moods, cognitive function, and vascular and reproductive health.

Unfortunately, sleep disorders, work hours, stress, and psychological and health problems can make it difficult to achieve the desired sleep schedule that is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

When you are in a state of sleep, your blood pressure is naturally decreased. When you do not allow your body to rest, this can result in hypertension, even in those taking blood pressure medication. “Systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction seem to be associated with both sleep loss and sleep disorders.”

Sleep disorders like sleep apnea can make it almost impossible to get a decent night’s rest. There are 3 types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and a combination of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is far more common than central sleep apnea, but both require medical evaluation and a sleep study to determine the diagnosis. It is also possible to have both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, which is referred to as “mixed/complex apnea.”

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your throat muscles become so relaxed that they block your airway, leading to interruptions in breathing and a lack of oxygenation to your body’s systems. Sometimes the lack of oxygen is so apparent that you may wake up gasping for air and have the physical discomfort of choking. Snoring can also be a symptom that you have obstructive sleep apnea, although it is possible to snore and not be afflicted with obstructive sleep apnea.

There is compelling data that shows a link between hypertension, arrhythmias, stroke, coronary heart disease, increased cardiovascular mortality, and obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea can also increase your risk of insulin resistance, which can develop into Type 2 diabetes.

Other risk factors include liver problems, digestive system problems, eye problems, pregnancy complications, difficulty with memory, and brain function. It can lead to being fatigued and sleepy during the day, as well as contributing to a shorter life span. Sleep apnea can also affect your libido, presenting with headaches when you wake up in the morning, as well as night sweats.

“There is also data in obstructive sleep apnea and animal models supporting the link between sleep apnea and atherosclerosis and dysmetabolism.” There are an estimated 1 billion people worldwide, between the ages of 30 and 69, who are afflicted with obstructive sleep apnea. 

Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea are as follows:

• Being overweight

• Thick neck circumference

• A narrow airway due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids

• Advanced age

• Familial disposition

• Drinking alcohol

• Smoking

• Using sedatives/tranquilizers

• Gender (OSA is far more common in men than women)

Diseases that can contribute to OSA:

• Congestive Heart Failure

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Type 2 diabetes

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

• Hormonal disorders

• Prior stroke and chronic lung disease

Central sleep apnea is when you stop breathing due to a brain signaling failure, where your brain simply doesn’t remember to communicate to your body’s muscles to breathe.

Factors that contribute to central sleep apnea are as follows:

• Stroke

• Advanced age

• Gender (men are more likely to develop CSA than women)

• Heart attack

• Congestive Heart Failure

• A weak breathing pattern called Cheyne-Stokes breathing

• Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)

• Arthritis in the cervical spine

• Parkinson’s disease (an age-related deterioration of certain nerve systems that affects movement, balance, and muscle control)

• Surgery or radiation treatments in the spine

Drugs that can contribute to central sleep apnea include:

• Codeine

• Morphine

• Oxycodone

As a vascular surgeon, it is important to look at each individual as a whole and take a detailed history of each patient. This is not only crucial to identify vascular problems, but also to identify lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and sleep patterns, to rule out detrimental habits or disorders that can affect your health and desired outcomes. Taking a multidisciplinary approach with each patient is key to producing the best treatment plan possible that achieves each person’s wellness and health goals.

Treatments for sleep apnea vary from lifestyle changes to breathing-assisted machines like CPAP or BIPAP, medications, and sometimes surgical interventions. Medical interventions are determined by the type and severity of your particular sleep apnea.

If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, it is important to follow up with your primary care physician to get assessed so you can ensure you receive the proper treatment.