Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Sleep apnea and hypertension requires medical help and a committed life-style change. The combination of pulmonary hypertension and sleep apnea can be an even greater health risk.

Studies have shown that there is strong evidence for a link between sleep apnea and hypertension. Your snoring could be putting a great strain on your cardiovascular system.

The prevalence of snoring and sleep apnea among individuals with high blood pressure is close to 40% and jumps to over 80% among individuals with drug-resistant hypertension (requiring two or more anti-hypertensive medications).

Researchers have shown a strong relationship between the severity of sleep apnea and the incidence of new hypertension that cannot be explained by other risk factors, such as age, gender, or Body Mass Index (BMI). This indicates that individuals with a history of habitual snoring with frequent pauses in their breathing, and waking up gasping for air throughout the night, are at a significantly greater risk of developing hypertension.

The following is an all too common account of how easily the seriousness of sleep apnea and hypertension and its diagnosis can be missed:

"Before I discovered that hypertension and sleep apnea could be significant I fought with an overwhelming tiredness that kept me from enjoying the normal functions in my life. All I wanted to do was sleep but when I would lie down, either sleep would not come or I would take a small nap and wake up feeling more drained. This went on for a period of almost two years before I discovered the reason. Since I live alone, no one ever told me that my snoring was atrocious until a relative spent the night and mentioned that my snoring kept him awake in another room. I decided to read up on how snoring might affect my tiredness and was surprised to find sleep apnea could very well be the cause."

Hypertension is high blood pressure that may occur without any change on your part but can shorten your life by forcing your heart to work harder to keep your organs functioning. Pulmonary hypertension is when the right side of the heart has trouble pumping blood through the lungs that it is connected to. Left undiagnosed and untreated, the affected blood vessels thicken and become stiff, a process known as fibrosis. Lungs are constricted and cut off precious air supply, making every movement a chore. With the additional sleep apnea, heart and lungs have to work beyond normal capacity.

Hypertension is nothing to mess around with and the mixture of sleep apnea and hypertension can make for a deadly combination. If you are suffering from sleep apnea, heart conditions could be a leading contributor. Watch for signs of:

• Tiredness
• Weight Gain
• Depression
• Trouble Concentrating
• Elevated blood pressure

These signs could be the onset of sleep apnea and hypertension so if you are experiencing any of these signs, take it seriously and find a professional and have an over-night study performed. It could change your life, and potentially save it.

Wellness begins with a good night sleep.

PV Sleep Well specializes in testing for sleep apnea. We are also a supplier of CPAP equipment, available for sale or rent, and accessories. For additional information or to schedule a screening contact info(at)pvsleepwell.com.

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Visit PVSleepWell.com to learn more about sleep apnea, the solutions that are available and the services they offer, then contact PVSleepWell and take the first step to a better night’s sleep, to a better life! PVSleepWell can be reached in Puerto Vallarta at 52-322-117-2255 or by emailing Info(at)PVSleepWell.com.

Click HERE to learn more about PV Sleep Well.