Hypertension and atrial fibrillation in obstructive sleep apnea: is it a menopause issue?

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common disorder in which loss of pharyngeal dilator muscle tone during sleep causes recurrent collapse of the upper airway and temporary cessation of breathing. The recurrent apnea –hypopnea episodes cause autonomic alterations, including activation of the sympathetic nervous system and an increase in serum catecholamine levels, which in turn increase both heart rate and blood pressure. Also, cortical arousals from sleep, which are brief apnea-related awakenings, and altered sleep quality result in sympathetic nerve activation in OSA patients.
Source: Maturitas - Category: Primary Care Authors: Source Type: research