Topic Overview
Many people with heart failure have trouble sleeping.
You may have
insomnia because of trouble breathing or because of
depression or
anxiety.
Some people with heart
failure have
sleep apnea, which means they stop breathing for 10
seconds or longer several times a night. This reduces the amount of oxygen
their body gets.
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to health problems
or make problems that you already have worse. It can make fluid
build-up worse for people who have heart failure.
Sleep apnea may make
you snore loudly and not sleep well, so you may be very tired during the
day.
Sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes,
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), or devices
you wear in your mouth to keep your airway open. In some cases, surgery can
help.
Talk to your doctor if you have trouble sleeping or think
you may have sleep apnea.
You can do some things at home to help yourself get a good
night's sleep.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
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| Last Revised | April 26, 2012 |
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