Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Mechanism of Hypertension

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by upper airway obstruction and in most cases associated with persistent hypertension, found in more than half of patients with OSA. The syndrome should be suspected especially in overweight hypertensive middle-aged men with excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and loud snoring during sleep. The mechanism of hypertension is complex, including increased sympathetic nerve activity and catecholamine excretion. It should be noted that OSA is regarded as one of the most common causes of reversible hypertension.