Sleep Apnea Impact on Heart Diseases and Hormone Level

The aim of this research was to study the effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), snoring and the episodes of cessation of breathing on heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and coronary artery diseases. Thirty patients has been suffering from OSA since 7 years were subjected to scintigraphic study using the radiopharmaceutical (Thalium²⁰¹) and Tc^99m MIBI) using General Electric-Infinia Hawkeye 4` gamma camera. Present study showed that apnea causes obstruction of right coronary arteries, ischemia of the lower part of posterior wall of left ventricle, infarction of postero-lateral wall of left ventricle, ischemia in the apico-septal wall and infarction of the infero-septal wall of left ventricle. In conclusion, OSA increases the risk of stroke and death, disturb sleep level, accompanied with hypertension, atrial fibrillation and erectile dysfunction. Treatment by the aid of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) resulted in improvement. Comparing the hormone level and scintigraphy is under investigation.