Sleep Apnea & Heart Rate

If you use a smart watch or ring, you've probably noticed that certain metrics change based on your daily choices, like coffee vs no coffee, but have you taken a look at how your sleep is impacting your health metrics? When it comes to your sleep, the better your sleep, the better your heart health metrics.. let's take a look at 2 in particular.

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Starting Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment can feel like a big change. The first week might seem overwhelming or challenging as you try to incorporate this new routine into your nightly schedule. On the other hand, you might find the transition surprisingly smooth and easy. 

Regardless of your experience, it's reassuring to know that the benefits of CPAP treatment aren't solely reserved for the distant future. In fact, the majority of users begin to notice positive changes within the first week of treatment! From a lowered resting heart rate to waking up more refreshed, these early signs can serve as encouraging milestones on your journey. 

You may have heard from your doctor that heart rate is a critical indicator of overall health and body function. Maintaining a healthy resting heart rate (RHR) and a maximum heart rate (MHR) are crucial for longevity and cardiovascular fitness.

Resting Heart Rate (RHR) measures how many times your heart beats per minute when you are relaxed. A lower RHR generally signifies better cardiovascular health. For example, our founder Brian saw his RHR go from the low 80s to the low 60s in his first week on CPAP.

When someone chooses not to treat their sleep apnea, they will continue to have breathing disruption during sleep, causing oxygen deprivation and stress on their cardiovascular system. This can elevate RHR as the heart compensates for reduced oxygen levels.

When you choose to effectively treat your sleep apnea, often with a CPAP machine, it improves oxygen intake during sleep. Over time, this will reduce stress on your heart and lower your RHR.

Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) refers to the highest heartbeats per minute during intense physical activity, estimated using MHR = 220 - age.

Untreated sleep apnea can impact MHR by putting stress on your cardiovascular function, hindering your heart's ability to reach high heart rates during exercise. When you choose to effectively treat your OSA, it ensures adequate oxygen supply during sleep, reducing cardiovascular strain and potentially improving your MHR over time.

Regular monitoring of RHR and MHR with a smart watch or ring is helpful to assess your treatment’s effectiveness and can feel really good that in just 7 days, you’ve already seen positive improvements in your health data!

As you navigate your first week with CPAP and see the benefits you discover, share with us in our GEM SLEEP Facebook Community!

If you are tired or exhausted do not operate a vehicle or machinery.
The information contained in this document is for educational purposes only, Sleep Apnea can only be diagnosed via a medically approved sleep study. A sleep study must be ordered and reviewed by a professional provider trained in Sleep Medicine.

GEM Sleep is focused on treatment and support of Sleep Apnea, not other sleep conditions.

Written by:
Dr. Mike Howell
Chief Medical Officer

Starting Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment can feel like a big change. The first week might seem overwhelming or challenging as you try to incorporate this new routine into your nightly schedule. On the other hand, you might find the transition surprisingly smooth and easy. 

Regardless of your experience, it's reassuring to know that the benefits of CPAP treatment aren't solely reserved for the distant future. In fact, the majority of users begin to notice positive changes within the first week of treatment! From a lowered resting heart rate to waking up more refreshed, these early signs can serve as encouraging milestones on your journey. 

You may have heard from your doctor that heart rate is a critical indicator of overall health and body function. Maintaining a healthy resting heart rate (RHR) and a maximum heart rate (MHR) are crucial for longevity and cardiovascular fitness.

Resting Heart Rate (RHR) measures how many times your heart beats per minute when you are relaxed. A lower RHR generally signifies better cardiovascular health. For example, our founder Brian saw his RHR go from the low 80s to the low 60s in his first week on CPAP.

When someone chooses not to treat their sleep apnea, they will continue to have breathing disruption during sleep, causing oxygen deprivation and stress on their cardiovascular system. This can elevate RHR as the heart compensates for reduced oxygen levels.

When you choose to effectively treat your sleep apnea, often with a CPAP machine, it improves oxygen intake during sleep. Over time, this will reduce stress on your heart and lower your RHR.

Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) refers to the highest heartbeats per minute during intense physical activity, estimated using MHR = 220 - age.

Untreated sleep apnea can impact MHR by putting stress on your cardiovascular function, hindering your heart's ability to reach high heart rates during exercise. When you choose to effectively treat your OSA, it ensures adequate oxygen supply during sleep, reducing cardiovascular strain and potentially improving your MHR over time.

Regular monitoring of RHR and MHR with a smart watch or ring is helpful to assess your treatment’s effectiveness and can feel really good that in just 7 days, you’ve already seen positive improvements in your health data!

As you navigate your first week with CPAP and see the benefits you discover, share with us in our GEM SLEEP Facebook Community!

If you are tired or exhausted do not operate a vehicle or machinery.
The information contained in this document is for educational purposes only, Sleep Apnea can only be diagnosed via a medically approved sleep study. A sleep study must be ordered and reviewed by a professional provider trained in Sleep Medicine.

GEM Sleep is focused on treatment and support of Sleep Apnea, not other sleep conditions.

Written by:
Dr. Mike Howell
Chief Medical Officer