Health Infographic for DeKalb County. Doctors Reveal How Sleep Apnea Harms Your Heart

Infographic by The Health Experts @ The Health Standard.

Key Takeaways for DeKalb County Residents.

• Understand the link between sleep apnea and heart disease.
• Learn why early detection is crucial.
• Follow expert recommendations for better health.

**Why This Matters to You: **By managing your sleep apnea early, you can potentially reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve your overall health and well-being.

You can read the article by selecting your county here.

A recent study adds to the evidence that there is a solid link between sleep apnea and cardiovascular diseases. However, the findings of this study highlight an issue that many young people tend to ignore. They feel that sleep apnea does not apply to them. This finding is crucial for DeKalb County, Georgia residents because the findings continue to highlight the heart health benefits of early detection and treatment of sleep apnea.

Further steps: The STOP-Bang questionnaire is a tool you can use to further your conversation with your healthcare team about your sleep. (Visit Resource Here)

Learn more: What are prevalence ratios?.

A prevalence ratio is a simple way to compare how common a health condition is between two different groups of people. For example, if we're looking at how many people in one group have sleep apnea compared to another group, the prevalence ratio tells us if one group has a higher or lower percentage of people with sleep apnea compared to the other group. It's a way to see if a condition is more or less common in different groups.

Here are five key takeaways from the sleep apnea and cardiovascular health study:

1. Young Adults at Risk: Surprisingly, young adults (ages 20-40) with sleep apnea face significantly higher risks of heart problems. This challenges the common belief that sleep apnea only affects older people's heart health.
2. Hypertension Link: Young adults with probable sleep apnea are 45% more likely to have high blood pressure compared to those without sleep apnea. This underscores the importance of early detection and treatment.
3. Metabolic Syndrome Connection: Sleep apnea increases the risk of metabolic syndrome by 25% in young adults. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
4. Severe Impact on Heart Health: Young adults with sleep apnea have a striking 10 times higher risk of experiencing angina (chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart) compared to those without sleep apnea.
5. Overall Cardiovascular Risk: The study found that young adults with sleep apnea have more than three times the risk of developing any type of cardiovascular disease compared to their peers without sleep apnea.

These findings highlight the critical need for early screening and treatment of sleep apnea, even in younger populations, to prevent long-term cardiovascular problems.

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DeKalb County Alert: Sleep Apnea is Linked to 5 Common Health Conditions Affecting Our Residents.

1. Liver Problems: Research has found an association between sleep apnea and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which can range from simple fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a more serious condition involving liver inflammation and damage.
2. Complications in Pregnancy: Pregnant women with sleep apnea may be at increased risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine during pregnancy), and preterm birth.
3. Cognitive Impairment: Untreated sleep apnea has been linked to problems with memory, concentration, and overall cognitive function. These issues can affect daily activities and quality of life.
4. Mental Health Disorders: Sleep apnea is often associated with mood disorders like depression and anxiety. The disrupted sleep and oxygen deprivation caused by sleep apnea can negatively impact mental well-being.
5. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): The pressure changes in the chest during sleep apnea episodes can contribute to acid reflux, worsening GERD symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation.

Key Health and Medical Statistics of DeKalb County, Georgia

Did you know there were 21931 deaths from heart disease in Georgia in 2021?

28.3% of you in DeKalb County have been screened for cholesterol in the past 5 years.

12% of you in DeKalb County have been diagnosed with diabetes.

39.8% of you in DeKalb County sleeping less than 7 hours per night.

88.7% of you in DeKalb County have had a cholesterol screening in the past 3 years.

Health Facts That Matter: The health data above directly impact your physical well-being and are crucial in determining your overall health outcomes.

The Health Standard Newswire.