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Daytime waking autonomic function and vascular control in OSA
Author(s) -
HEDNER JAN
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of sleep research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2869
pISSN - 0962-1105
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2869.1995.tb00209.x
Subject(s) - vasodilation , medicine , blood pressure , cardiology , autonomic function , nitric oxide , heart rate , heart rate variability
SUMMARY This paper deals with the potential role of two blood pressure regulatory systems in the development of hypertension in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Beside the acute and long‐term sympathoexcitation documented in this disease, there seems to be an impaired endothelium‐dependent vascular relaxation. In particular, nitric oxide (NO)‐mediated vasodilatation was impaired in patients with OSA. Both these changes act to increase blood pressure during physiological conditions. However, they may not be determinants for hypertension development in OSA as no differences between normo‐ and hypertensive patients with OSA were detected. Nevertheless, an altered balance between the vasoconstrictive influence of the sympathoadrenergic system and the vasodilatory action of NO‐dependent vascular relaxation may be of importance in the development of sustained hypertension in OSA.