16.07.2025
Sleep apnoea and heart health are deeply connected in ways many people may not fully realize. According to Dr. Aditi Desai, a leading expert in dental sleep medicine and President of the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine, understanding this link is essential for better heart health and overall wellbeing. In this article, we explore how sleep apnoea and heart failure, sleep apnoea and heart palpitations, and sleep apnoea and heart disease are closely related – and what Dr. Desai’s insights mean for people living with these conditions.
What is Sleep Apnoea?
Sleep apnoea is a common sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), happens when throat muscles intermittently relax and block the airway. This interruption not only affects sleep quality but also has significant consequences for heart health.
Dr. Aditi Desai: A Specialist’s Perspective
Dr. Aditi Desai emphasises that sleep apnoea is not just a sleep issue; it is a major risk factor for cardiovascular conditions. Her extensive work shows how untreated sleep apnoea contributes directly to heart failure, heart palpitations, and heart disease.
She notes that many people overlook these connections. Often, they only seek help when symptoms become severe – by which time, heart health might already be compromised. Through education and early intervention, Dr. Desai advocates for recognising the signs and understanding the links between sleep apnoea and heart disease.
Sleep Apnoea and Heart Failure: Understanding the Risk
According to Dr. Desai, sleep apnoea and heart failure are often found together. Repeated drops in oxygen levels during the night force the heart to work harder, increasing the risk of developing heart failure. Over time, the heart’s ability to pump effectively can weaken.
Dr. Desai points out that people with heart failure who also have sleep apnoea tend to experience worse outcomes than those without sleep apnoea. This highlights why screening for sleep apnoea in patients with heart failure is crucial.
The association between sleep apnoea and heart failure is supported by large clinical studies, showing that patients with untreated sleep apnoea are more likely to be hospitalised for heart failure and have a higher risk of premature death.
Sleep Apnoea and Heart Palpitations: The Hidden Connection
Many people with sleep apnoea report heart palpitations – the sensation of the heart beating too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly. Dr. Desai explains that these palpitations often result from the body’s stress response to repeated oxygen deprivation.
Sleep apnoea and heart palpitations often occur together because the autonomic nervous system becomes overactive during apnoeic episodes. This heightened stress response can trigger arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, which further increase the risk of stroke and heart failure.
Dr. Desai encourages patients who experience unexplained heart palpitations to consider whether sleep apnoea might be a contributing factor. Identifying and treating sleep apnoea can significantly reduce palpitations and improve heart rhythm stability.
Sleep Apnoea and Heart Disease: A Broader Perspective
Sleep apnoea and heart disease are deeply linked beyond just heart failure and palpitations. Dr. Desai highlights that untreated sleep apnoea can accelerate atherosclerosis, increase blood pressure, and elevate inflammation – all of which contribute to heart disease.
The repeated drop in oxygen levels, combined with spikes in blood pressure during apnoeic episodes, puts continuous stress on blood vessels and the heart. Over years, this leads to an increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular complications.
Dr. Desai stresses that treating sleep apnoea doesn’t just improve sleep quality – it plays a critical role in reducing the risk of heart disease and protecting long-term heart health.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
Dr. Desai’s work focuses heavily on the importance of early diagnosis. She believes that understanding the link between sleep apnoea and heart failure, sleep apnoea and heart palpitations, and sleep apnoea and heart disease can motivate people to seek help sooner.
She advocates for better collaboration between cardiologists, dentists, and sleep specialists to identify patients at risk earlier. Simple questionnaires, sleep studies, and even dental screenings can help detect sleep apnoea before it significantly damages the heart.
Treatment Options: Insights from Dr. Desai
Dr. Desai explains that treatment for sleep apnoea depends on its severity and underlying causes. Common treatments include:
- Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs): As a dentist, Dr. Desai specialises in these custom-fitted devices, which reposition the jaw to keep the airway open.
- Lifestyle changes: Weight loss, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol can significantly improve symptoms.
By treating sleep apnoea, patients often see improvements in heart failure symptoms, fewer heart palpitations, and a lower overall risk of heart disease.
The Role of Dentistry in Heart Health
One of Dr. Aditi Desai’s most valuable contributions to modern healthcare is her emphasis on the critical yet often underappreciated role dentists can play in identifying sleep apnoea, a condition deeply intertwined with heart health. During routine dental check-ups, dentists are uniquely positioned to spot physical signs that might point to underlying sleep apnoea. These signs include excessive tooth wear caused by night-time grinding (bruxism), an enlarged or scalloped tongue that could suggest airway obstruction, and anatomical features like a small jaw or narrow palate, which can restrict airflow during sleep.
Dr. Desai highlights that while dentists are traditionally seen as caregivers for oral health, their regular, often close contact with patients places them in an ideal position to detect early warning signs of sleep apnoea. Recognizing these signs doesn’t just help improve sleep quality; it can also have a profound effect on cardiovascular health. Sleep apnoea and heart disease, sleep apnoea and heart palpitations, and sleep apnoea and heart failure are all closely connected. Untreated sleep apnoea can cause repeated drops in blood oxygen levels and disrupt normal heart rhythms, leading to increased strain on the heart over time.
This multidisciplinary approach advocated by Dr. Desai is crucial for several reasons. First, it bridges the gap between dental care and broader medical practice, ensuring that sleep apnoea is identified and managed as part of a patient’s overall health rather than in isolation. Second, it allows for earlier detection and intervention, which can significantly reduce the risk of severe complications like heart disease, persistent heart palpitations, and even heart failure. By collaborating closely with cardiologists, sleep specialists, and primary care doctors, dentists can help patients receive the right diagnostic tests and treatment options, from oral appliances to lifestyle modifications and medical therapies.
Dr. Desai’s Message: Heart Health Starts with Better Sleep
Dr. Desai’s key message is simple: addressing sleep apnoea is one of the most powerful steps people can take to protect their heart. By treating sleep apnoea, patients don’t just sleep better – they reduce the risk of heart failure, stabilise heart rhythm, and lower the risk of heart disease.
She encourages everyone to take symptoms seriously: loud snoring, daytime fatigue, or morning headaches might be signs of sleep apnoea. Discussing these symptoms with a healthcare provider could be the first step toward better heart health.
Looking Ahead: Future Directions
Dr. Desai believes that continued research and public awareness are essential. Newer technologies, such as wearable devices and home sleep studies, make it easier than ever to diagnose sleep apnoea.
She also highlights the need for more public education about the strong link between sleep apnoea and heart failure, sleep apnoea and heart palpitations, and sleep apnoea and heart disease. By increasing awareness, more people might seek help earlier, protecting not just their sleep but also their heart.
Sleep apnoea and heart failure, sleep apno
