Sleep Apnea Risk: If sleep apnea is bothering you, be alert; death will sneak up on you.

High Blood Pressure And Sleep: Sleep apnea occurs when the airway repeatedly becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing to stop for brief periods. The body responds immediately.

 

Sleep apnea increases the risk of heart disease.

How Sleep Apnea Increases Heart Disease Risk: We often think of sleep as a time for the body to rest and recover. However, millions of people around the world find their sleep less restful than it should be. A common but often overlooked problem is obstructive sleep apnea, which repeatedly interrupts breathing during sleep. Let us explain how dangerous this can be for you and what research has found.

What did the research reveal?

A recent large study, to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity 2026, has provided serious insights into this problem. It found that people with sleep apnea may have up to a 71 percent higher risk of heart disease or death. The research was conducted by scientists at Imperial College Health Partners and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, and was also supported by Eli-Lilly and Company.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when the airway repeatedly becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing to stop for a short time. The body reacts immediately, and the person awakens slightly to allow breathing to resume. This process repeats several times throughout the night, impairing sleep quality and lowering oxygen levels in the body. Long-term stress on the heart and blood vessels can lead to increased blood pressure, impaired heart rhythm, and increased inflammation. This is why sleep apnea is linked to heart disease.

What is the connection with obesity?

This problem is also closely linked to obesity. Approximately 40 to 70 percent of sleep apnea patients are overweight or obese. Fat deposits around the neck narrow the airway, increasing breathing difficulties. Sleep apnea itself makes it difficult to lose weight, creating a dangerous cycle. This study analyzed the health records of approximately 2.9 million people. More than 20,000 sleep apnea patients were compared with approximately 100,000 people who did not have this problem. These people were monitored for four years.

What was the result?

The results were quite alarming. Approximately 26 percent of people with sleep apnea experienced a serious condition such as a heart attack, stroke, or death, compared to 17 percent of those without sleep apnoea. Not only heart disease, but people with sleep apnea also had a higher incidence of diabetes, obesity, joint problems, and mental health issues. Furthermore, these individuals utilized healthcare services more frequently.

Although treatments exist, such as a CPAP machine, which keeps the airway open while sleeping, many people either remain unaware of the condition or do not receive proper treatment, which further increases the risk.