Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a problem in which the upper airway or tissues of the back throat becomes completely or partially blocked while sleeping and leads to interruption in breathing numerous times during the night.

Recently a study, which was carried out by Dr. Virend K. Somers of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and colleagues and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has revealed an unknown fact that OSA can lead to nighttime heart attacks.

According to the research, the changes which occur in the blood-pressure, nerve and hormones during the OSA are the key factors for the attack to occur. These changes actually block the arteries of heart and trigger the attack.

To prove their findings to be correct, Somers and Colleagues undertook 92 patients who had recently suffered a heart attack.  

The researchers recorded the time of their heart attack. All these patients also took part n a sleep study about 17 days after their heart attack. The results of the study showed that out of 92 patients, 64 had OSD.

The timings of the heart attack were the only factor which was different when the patients with OSD were compared with those who didn’t have it. Other than this, the medication used and backgrounds were similar among all the patients.

The study also found that patients who suffered from OSD were six times more likely to have had heart attack between midnight and 6 a.m., while patients who were free from the ailment have had their heart attacks between 6 a.m. and noon.

 The researchers now are aiming to find a proper cure for OSD, which according to them “may be a trigger” for heart attacks. OSD also leads to excessive daytime sleepiness and can be effectively treated by using special breathing device that removes the blockage by pushing air into the throat.