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    • Providing Health and Well Being Through Proper Sleep Will Change Your Life
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    Sleep Health and Stroke

    When someone has a stroke, it is concerning, as it is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United States. Less than half of those who survive are able to return home, and it presents about a 17 percent chance of recurrence. Strokes can cause permanent disabilities.

    Just like their connections with many other health issues, sleep disorders can be related to the outcome and recurrence of strokes. It is estimated that there is about a 50 percent prevalence of sleep disorders after someone has a stroke. The problem is that many of these sleep disorders go undiagnosed because many are not tested for during a formal sleep testing.

    Why Stroke Victims do not Receive Sleep Disorder Screening

    Often stroke victims do not get tested for sleep disorders because:

    • They do not know of the connection

      A major reason stroke victims are not tested for sleep disorders is simply because the connection is not clear. Stroke victims do not know they should be tested due to the lack of awareness on the part of themselves and their doctors.

    • The timing is unclear

      The testing should be done within a reasonable amount of time since the stroke.

    • They do not have a place to go

      Stroke victims need to know where to go to get this testing done and many of them do not. They also need a place with the right testing equipment and means of treatment.

    Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Stroke Connections

    Sleep-disordered breathing can have an effect on stroke risk:

    • Sleep apnea

      Sleep apnea occurs when someone snores or stops breathing for several seconds and then gasps for air. This condition disrupts sleep. People with obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, have almost a twofold increase in strokes or death. Because you wake up so often, OSA can also hinder your recovery after having a stroke. You are not able to get into truly restorative sleep. It leads you to feel lethargic and hurts your ability to heal.

    • Leads to other problems

      When you have a sleep disorder, you may also experience blood pressure changes which can lead to hypertension or high blood pressure. Hypertension is the strongest risk factor for stroke. Many times the hypertension is attributed to another factor and sleep apnea is overlooked.

    If you are at risk for stroke, it is important to get your sleep health checked through a proper sleep study. Set up a Sleep Health Consultation with us today.

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