A new study has shown that people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may face serious long-term health risks, including faster heart aging and a higher chance of dying early.
The research was published in the journal npj Aging and was led by scientists from the University of Missouri and Marshall University.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This happens because the muscles in the throat relax too much, blocking the airway.
People with this condition often snore loudly, wake up feeling tired, and have poor sleep quality. But the study reveals that the effects go far beyond just feeling sleepy during the day.
The research team used a special mouse model to study how sleep apnea affects the heart and blood vessels over time. The model recreated the same kind of oxygen drops that people with sleep apnea experience at night. The mice were exposed to these low-oxygen levels repeatedly during their normal sleep times.
Over time, the mice exposed to this interrupted breathing pattern showed clear signs of aging in their cardiovascular systems. Their blood pressure went up, their heart function got worse, and their blood vessels became stiff.
Blood flow to the heart also dropped, and there were changes in how the heart’s electrical system worked. These are all signs of a heart aging faster than normal.
The mice exposed to sleep apnea also died earlier than those that breathed normally. This shows how untreated sleep apnea can put a serious strain on the body and lead to dangerous heart problems.
Dr. Mohammad Badran, the lead author of the study, said that sleep apnea doesn’t just cause bad sleep. It puts long-term stress on the heart and blood vessels, which can shorten a person’s life. He emphasized the importance of finding and treating sleep apnea early to avoid these risks.
Dr. David Gozal, who helped lead the study, said that while past research in humans has shown a connection between sleep apnea and heart disease, this mouse study makes the effects even clearer.
Because the mice had no other health problems, it was easy to see how sleep apnea alone caused the damage. He warned that sleep apnea is not a harmless condition—it’s a serious illness that can lead to fatal outcomes if ignored.
This research is especially important for places like Appalachia in the United States. Many people in this region suffer from heart disease and may have sleep apnea without knowing it.
Early testing and treatment—such as using a CPAP machine to keep the airway open during sleep—could help improve heart health and save lives, especially in rural and underserved communities.
In summary, this study shows that untreated sleep apnea can damage the heart and blood vessels over time, leading to early aging and even death. Getting tested and treated early is key to protecting your health and living longer.
If you care about sleep, please read studies about herb that could help you sleep well at night, and these drugs could lower severity of sleep apnea by one third.
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