Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Obstructive sleep apnea and heart attack protection?

This article discusses a study showing that patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have less heart muscle damage during a non-fatal heart attack. These results contradict other studies showing an increased risk of heart attack with untreated OSA.

Some of the doctors in the study urge caution saying that perhaps the chronically low level of oxygen in OSA sufferers may protect some heart attack victims. Also, the study showed that the frequency of heart attacks was not decreased by OSA, just the damage to the heart muscle from the heart attack. Interesting study and more studies will be needed to sort this out.

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