Sleep apnea: why a good night's sleep is good for your health.
Recent studies have suggested that sleep apnea-a form of sleep-disordered breathing in which sleep is repeatedly interrupted by episodes of decreased or absent breathing-may be linked to pathogenesis and progression of numerous disease states. In particular, cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, myocardial ischemia, and congestive heart failure are associated with sleep disordered breathing. There also may be a link between diabetes and sleep apnea. While pharmacologic treatments have shown little efficacy, treatment with continuous positive airway pressure often is beneficial. Increasingly, clinicians are considering sleep apnea as a potential risk factor for many diseases and conditions.
McHenry Martin
Caren
C
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*