November 10, 2025 | Categories: Sleep
Why OSA Patients Should Talk to Their Doctors about Their Heart Rate
You may have heard that sleep apnea takes a toll on your heart but are not exactly sure why that is. When your breathing is interrupted and oxygen level drops, the stress hormone, cortisol, is released which can lead to high blood pressure if this is an ongoing occurrence. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious health condition that’s also associated with stroke, arrythmia, and heart failure, according to the American Heart Association. The next time you’re at your doctor’s appointment, ask them about your pulse and if there have been any changes to it since your last visit. It could be an indication of how well your OSA treatment is going.
Quite a few studies have shown that sleep apnea can strain the heart but two recent studies looked at heart rate variability and its association with sleep apneas. A recent study published in Nature looked at over 750 patients and found that apneas caused higher ultra-short-term heart rate variability and a stronger decrease in beat-to-beat intervals. This suggests that doctors should factor in a patient’s heart rate variability and the possible cardiac consequences when making an OSA diagnosis.
Another study published in EJR Open Research journal found that an increase in arterial pulsation frequency measured with a nocturnal photoplethysmogram (PPG) in both men and women with OSA was associated with a higher number of lapses in psychomotor vigilance tasks, a reaction-time task that requires attention. These tasks are given to sleep-deprived individuals in studies to show the neurobehavioral effects of fatigue. A higher pulse frequency during the PPG method could be an indicator that the patient isn’t following their sleep apnea treatment plan diligently, particularly in male OSA patients.
Since other research has shown that heart rate variability has been linked to cognitive decline in obstructive sleep apnea patients, examining heart rate variability through various methods might be one way doctors can determine if a patient’s attentiveness to their OSA regimen has declined.
Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy administer through a mask has been shown to improve outcomes for some patients with heart failure, according to research published in the World Journal of Cardiology. Your physician should be monitoring your heart health as part of your OSA treatment but if they don’t bring it up, make sure you mention any family of heart problems and health issues that could be related to your sleep apnea.
This article originally appeared on Philip’s blog in 2021. Get in contact with Diana the sleep freelance writer if you need help with sleep copy or content.
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