Sleep apnea is a medical condition that causes pauses in breathing, called “apneas,” during sleep. The most common kind of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in which the upper airways become blocked and restrict airflow. Left untreated, OSA can lead to medical complications like heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and sudden death.

Atrial fibrillation, sometimes called AFib or AF, is the most common type of heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). AFib is a highly irregular and usually rapid heart rhythm, caused by chaotic and disordered electrical impulses in the upper chambers of the heart (the atria). It can cause stroke, heart failure, blood clots, and other health complications.

AFib and sleep apnea share some risk factors and potential complications in common. In fact, those with sleep apnea may be at higher risk of atrial fibrillation.

This article will discuss the link between sleep apnea and AFib, shared risk factors, getting diagnosed for either condition, and how to treat both conditions.

The Relationship Between Sleep Apnea and AFib

There is evidence of an association between sleep apnea and AFib. However, it’s not entirely clear how the two conditions are linked.

Current estimates indicate that having OSA increases the risk of having AFib by two to four times. Severe OSA is associated with an even higher risk of developing AFib. 

The risk of developing temporary AFib is also higher immediately following an apnea event during sleep. People with OSA also have a higher likelihood of developing recurrent AFib, especially if their OSA is left untreated. 

There is no single cause of either sleep apnea or AFib. Several of the risk factors for both conditions overlap, including:

How Common Are Sleep Apnea and AFib?

Both sleep apnea and AFib are relatively common medical conditions. An estimated 22 million adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea. Meanwhile, at least 2.7 million Americans are currently living with AFib. Over 12 million adults are expected to have AFib by 2030.

  • Obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • Age
  • Being male
  • Excessive alcohol use
  • Smoking
  • Family history of heart disease
  • Hormonal imbalances, such as thyroid conditions

Because of the strong correlation between sleep apnea and AFib, many clinicians recommend that you be screened for OSA if you have an AFib diagnosis. This is especially true if you have any of the above risk factors.

Sleep apnea and AFib can also lead to some of the same negative health outcomes, especially if left untreated. These may include:

  • StrokeHeart diseaseHeart failureCognitive impairments, including dementiaSudden death

Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea causes breathing interruptions during sleep. Each apnea event typically lasts 10 seconds or more. In severe cases, someone with sleep apnea may experience 30 or more of these pauses per hour. 

How Many People Have Both Sleep Apnea and AFib?

Some estimates suggest that around half of people who have OSA also have AFib.

The signs and symptoms of sleep apnea may include:

  • Choking or gasping for air during sleepLoud, frequent snoringExcessive daytime sleepinessFalling asleep during the dayIrritability and mood swingsDifficulty concentratingHeadaches or dry mouth upon wakingFeeling tired after a full night of sleep

The only way to definitively diagnose someone with sleep apnea is with an overnight sleep study, which is also called polysomnography. A sleep study measures your breathing rate, leg and eye movements, heart rate and rhythms, oxygen levels, and brain waves while you rest. 

A sleep specialist can use this data to determine your apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), which measures how many breathing interruptions experienced per hour. Your AHI will determine whether you have mild, moderate, or severe sleep apnea.

Diagnosing AFib

AFib is caused by misfiring electrical signals that cause your atria (upper heart chambers) to quiver and flutter (fibrillate). 

AFib is usually diagnosed when a healthcare provider notices a completely irregular, often rapid, heart rate. This diagnosis can be confirmed with an electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures your heart rhythms and electrical activity using sensors attached to your skin. 

Healthcare providers often classify AFib into various clinical patterns, which may affect the choice of treatment. These classifications include:

  • Paroxysmal fibrillation, when the heart rate returns to normal on its own within a week Persistent AFib, which lasts for more than seven daysLong-standing AFib, which lasts for more than 12 monthsPermanent AFib, which continues indefinitelyNonvalvular AFib, which is not caused by a problem with the heart valve

Treating Both Conditions

The first choice of treatment for OSA is positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment, which involves pumping pressurized air into the airways through a mask placed over the nose or nose and mouth during sleep.

Signs and Symptoms of AFib

Many people with AFib experience no symptoms at all. Others may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:

Usually, this is done with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. If you have sleep apnea, regular use of a CPAP device can reduce the risk of AFib.

There are several different possible treatments for AFib, including:

  • Taking prescribed blood thinners to lower the risk of stroke
  • Taking prescribed medications to control your heart rate and/or heart rhythms
  • Cardioversion, which “shocks” the heart back into a normal rhythm
  • Pulmonary vein isolation, a type of catheter ablation that uses gentle burning to block abnormal electrical impulses and prevent AFib
  • Using a pacemaker

If you have both OSA and AFib, it’s important to treat both conditions at the same time. Among people with OSA, the risk of developing recurrent AFib is higher after catheter ablation. Some studies show that regular use of a CPAP device as prescribed can lower the risk of recurrent AFib in people with sleep apnea. 

Because sleep apnea and AFib share several risk factors, it can also help to make certain lifestyle changes in order to prevent and manage both conditions. These may include: 

  • Quitting smokingReducing alcohol intakeManaging stressLosing weight Exercising regularlyEating a nutritious dietGetting adequate sleep

Summary

Sleep apnea is a medical condition that causes intermittent breathing interruptions during sleep. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA can be diagnosed with an overnight sleep study. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common type of heart arrhythmia. AFib can be diagnosed with an echocardiogram (ECG). 

There is evidence of an association between sleep apnea and AFib. About half of people with OSA also have AFib. Sleep apnea and AFib share some risk factors in common, including age, obesity, and smoking. Both sleep apnea and AFib may lead to health complications like stroke and heart failure.

Treating OSA with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy can reduce the recurrence of atrial fibrillation.

A Word From Verywell

If you’ve been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, you might want to ask your healthcare provider about the possibility of being assessed for OSA. It’s important to treat both sleep apnea and AFib as advised by your healthcare provider. This can help you prevent, manage, and treat the symptoms of both conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does curing sleep get rid of AFib?
  • Sleep apnea increases the risk of having atrial fibrillation, or AFib, by approximately two to four times. This is especially true among people with severe sleep apnea.Treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with regular use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine during sleep reduces the risk of AFib recurrence.
  • Is atrial fibrillation curable?
  • Atrial fibrillation is not entirely curable. However, it can be managed and treated effectively. Treatment for AFib usually involves taking prescribed medications and, in certain cases, procedures such as catheter ablation.Improving lifestyle factors, such as losing weight, exercising regularly, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and managing stress, can also help treat AFib symptoms.
  • Is sleep apnea curable?
  • Sleep apnea is a chronic condition, which means it is not curable. However, the symptoms of sleep apnea can be well managed with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.CPAP machines help prevent breathing interruptions during sleep by pumping pressurized air into the airways through a mask or nose tubes.

Sleep apnea increases the risk of having atrial fibrillation, or AFib, by approximately two to four times. This is especially true among people with severe sleep apnea.

Atrial fibrillation is not entirely curable. However, it can be managed and treated effectively. Treatment for AFib usually involves taking prescribed medications and, in certain cases, procedures such as catheter ablation.

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition, which means it is not curable. However, the symptoms of sleep apnea can be well managed with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.