8. High Blood Pressure That’s Resistant to Treatment
Sleep apnea and hypertension are closely connected. “Sleep-disordered breathing is independently associated with hypertension, even after controlling for possible confounding factors like age, body mass index, and sex,” Dr. Edward O. Bixler found in his comprehensive research. Strikingly, his research shows the strength of this association is most pronounced in young, normal-weight individuals. “The relationship between SDB and hypertension was strongest in young individuals, especially those of normal weight,” noted Dr. Bixler in his findings. Research by Dr. José M. Marin shows untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea significantly increases the risk of both fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events compared to treated patients.