Arrythmias

An arrhythmia is any unusual beating of the heart, which may include a heart rate that is too fast, too slow or irregular. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is one of the most common types of arrhythmia and about 50 percent of people living with AFib or heart failure also have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea can increase your risk of developing an arrhythmia is a number of ways, including increasing your risk of hypoxia, a state where there is a deprivation of oxygen reaching tissues. Sleep apnea also often increases your blood pressure, a risk factor for AFib.