How are sleep apnea and high blood pressure connected to serious health risks?

Sleep apnea is more than a cause of snoring or daytime fatigue because untreated breathing interruptions can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. The article highlights a study that examined deaths linked to both sleep apnea and hypertension in the United States over more than two decades. Mortality rates increased substantially after 1999, with especially sharp recent increases among men, African Americans, and people living outside major cities. These findings show that the relationship between sleep apnea and hypertension is an important public health issue and reinforce the value of identifying and addressing sleep-disordered breathing before its cardiovascular effects become more serious.