Could Sleep Apnea Be Suffocating Your Gut Microbiome?

OSA is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder, characterized by episodes of upper airway collapse resulting in sleep fragmentation, intermittent hypoxia, and changes in thoracic pressure. OSA has been independently associated with a range of different cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including hypertension, stroke, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation. The mechanisms by which OSA increases risks of CVD are speculated to involve sympathetic nervous system activation, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

A number of studies have identified a dysregulated gut microbiota in OSA leading to the hypothesis that gut microbiome characteristics may mediate effects of OSA on CVD...