OSA patients have altered heart response

BLACKSBURG, Va., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, have altered cardiovascular responses during recovery from strenuous exercise, U.S. researchers found.

Trent A. Hargens of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., focused on 44 individuals: 14 overweight with OSA, 16 overweight individuals without OSA and 14 normal weight without OSA -- the control. All were between the ages of 18 and 26.

Heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory exchange ratio and oxygen consumption were measured during and after exercise.

The study, published in the journal Sleep, found for the OSA patients, heart rate recovery was significantly weakened compared to the group that was overweight but did not have OSA and control group. No differences were noted in the heart rate or blood pressure response to exercise in any group.

OSA is a sleep-related breathing disorder that causes the body to stop breathing during sleep and keeps air from getting into the lungs.