Sleep affects your blood pressure as well as many other aspects of your cardiovascular health. An at-home sleep study can help us evaluate the quality of your sleep and identify any sleep disorders that might be affecting your heart health.
Snoring and gasping are often considered classic signs of a sleep disorder, but they aren’t the only symptoms that can indicate a problem. If you often experience broken sleep or restlessness at night, headaches in the morning, or a lack of energy during the day, you may be getting inadequate sleep because of insomnia, obstructive or central sleep apnea, or a disorder of your sleep architecture (the cyclical pattern of your sleep).
Inadequate or poor-quality sleep can have serious health consequences, including hypertension and heart arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation. Sleep disturbances can also increase your risk for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), affect your mood, and interfere with your ability to perform ordinary tasks during the day.
An at-home sleep study can help us evaluate your symptoms and determine whether a sleep disorder might be the cause. During a sleep study, sensors on your skin collect information about your breathing, heart rate, and movements. The compiled data can help your cardiologist evaluate the quality of your sleep, diagnose any disturbances, and if necessary, identify the best treatment option.
Poor-quality sleep can increase your risk of heart problems.