How Sleep Apnea Leads to a Lack of REM Sleep

• Risk of cardiovascular diseases: During sleep, blood pressure drops to its lowest point, but a research study has revealed that the loss of REM sleep may result in an increase in blood pressure.[3] A patient with sleep apnea experiences episodes of shallow breaths, which in turn reduces the cardiac output, and a low cardiac output exerts pressure in blood vessels. High blood pressure may result in heart failure, left ventricular hypertrophy, and other heart-related conditions.

• Risk of obesity: One of the causes of obesity is a decrease in the number of sleeping hours. Sleep deprivation disrupts the regulation of homeostasis energy caused by the endocrine system. The endocrine system is comprised of a network of glands that secrete different hormones to regulate different functions of the body, including the metabolism and homeostasis (balance of the body system). Loss REM sleep can easily disrupt these hormones. This interference, for instance, will lead to an inappropriate deposit of fats, glucose metabolism and appetite resulting in obesity.The relationship between sleep deprivation and obesity has mostly been observed in young and middle-aged adults.