Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea, OSA, is a chronic condition in which, an intermittent blockage of the airways, causes a person to stop breathing for periods of time while they are asleep. This period of not breathing can last for several seconds and may happen hundreds of times during a night of sleep. Most people with obstructive sleep apnea have no idea that they even have the condition. However, the poor quality of sleep due to sleep apnea can cause sufferers to feel tired during the day.
There is a direct correlation between obstructive sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation. OSA causes atrial fibrillation via atrial remodeling and enlargement, thought to also occur due to hypertension. The Sleep Heart Study, carried out by Case Western University, found that individuals with obstructive sleep apnea are four times more likely to develop atrial fibrillation than those without.
