Doctors Answers (2)
The answer to this great question can be very long due to multiple systems and mechanisms involved in obstructive sleep apnea. This type of apnea is more common than central and now is recognized to cause a variety of medical problems. Hypertension is just one of them. Obstructive sleep apnea episodes frequently result in sudden elevations of systolic and diastolic pressure at night and that will keep mean blood pressure levels elevated. After a period of time, blood pressure may remain elevated during the daytime as well when breathing is normal. This is due to multiple factors including recurrent stress and over reaction of sympathetic nervous system at night, alteration in vascular function caused by stress and inflammation. Treatment of OSA frequently results in reduction of daytime blood pressure- another point to intervene early. Hope this answers your question.
Estimates vary, but it is believed that approximately half of patients with high blood pressure also have obstructive sleep apnea. Scientist have found the risk of hypertension increased with the frequency of apnea episodes per hour of sleep. Those with 15 or more apnea episodes per hour were at 3 times the risk for hypertension as those without sleep apnea. Severe OSA has also been strongly linked to resistant hypertension. Resistant hypertension is a form of high blood pressure that does not respond to medication. Attempting to treat high blood pressure through medications or other therapies without also addressing the possible presence of OSA may undermine the success of treatment.
