The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Your Cardiac Health For the Love of Your Heart Sleep apnea isn’t just an annoying snoring ailment. It’s a life-threatening condition. Consider the story of the NFL’s minister of defense, Reggie White. After a lustrous career with two of the league’s most historic franchises, Reggie passed away at the age of 43 from a heart attack he sustained as a result of sleep apnea. Since his death, Reggie has missed watching his family grow and hearing his name called for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Reggie’s story isn’t unique. Sleep apnea constricts your airway for a variety of reasons, including the shape of your airway and tongue positioning. Your heart and brain rely on a steady flow of oxygen, and when your heart doesn’t get enough, it’s in a constant state of stress. In addition, your brain sends an alarm signal to your heart to jolt you awake and get more oxygen, causing continued stress on your heart.
SCIENCE WANTS YOU TO STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES The Benefits of Spending Time Outside
In a 2008 survey conducted by the National Trust in Britain, children were more likely to correctly identify a Dalek from “Doctor Who” than a barn owl. Likewise, a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation study of 8–18-year-olds in the U.S. found that the average youth spends more than 53 hours a week engaged with entertainment media. These statistics, coupled with growing concerns that children are spending less time outdoors, are leading to terms like “nature deficit disorder” and global initiatives to get kids outside. Why is contact with the outdoors so important? Researchers are answering this question by studying the benefits of time spent in nature. One benefit is that outdoor time helps kids understand boundaries and learn how to assess risk. As naturalist, author, and broadcaster Stephen Moss puts it, “Falling out of a tree is a very good lesson in risk-reward.” Not to mention, time in nature may help improve focus for hyperactive kids. In one national study of youths by the University of Illinois, participants’ attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms were reduced after spending time in a green setting versus a more urban one. This may be due to the fact that natural environments call upon our “soft fascination,” a less exhausting type of focus than what is required by urban environments. Emotional benefits were discovered too, including reduced aggression, increased happiness, and improved self-esteem. Beyond just getting outside, the type of contact we have with nature also matters. Visits to nature centers and watching “Planet Earth” are two ways to experience the outdoors. But research points specifically to the importance of free play in the natural world: unstructured outdoor time when children can explore and engage with their natural surroundings with no curriculum, lesson, or activity to complete. Ever notice how kids are fascinated by the simplest things? A child visits a rose garden, but before they even get to the flowers, they become captivated by a leaf on the ground or an ant crawling on their shoe. Children are born naturalists. These are the moments we need to recapture. Take a page out of that kid’s book, and as the saying goes, stop and smell the roses — or leaves or ants — with no checklist and no plan, just time spent playing outside.
As a result, sleep apnea sufferers have a 30% higher risk of heart attack or premature death. Consider these additional statistics, as well.
• Sleep apnea patients are four times as likely to have atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke, clots, and heart failure.
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Sleep apnea directly causes high blood pressure.
• The condition also increases mortality rates for those with congestive heart failure.
• About 30% of those with sleep apnea suffer from coronary artery disease.
• General heart disease impacts 38% of sleep apnea patients.
Today, Reggie’s widow, Sara White, advocates for sleep apnea treatment, research, and awareness, preserving her husband’s legacy and turning her family’s grief into a channel for good. Reggie’s family hopes his story serves as a lesson, and since his death, advancements in sleep medicine have improved the quality of life and treatment options for those with sleep apnea. The best way to monitor your heart health when you have sleep apnea is to treat the condition and to undergo regular cardiac testing. Dr. Jelinek’s team can give your heart a much-needed break with a sleep apnea treatment plan that fits your lifestyle. Call 703-584-5996 to set up a free consultation and visit NorthernVirginiaDental.com to learn more about sleep apnea’s effects.
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