Air Travel Taxes Hearts of People With Sleep Apnea

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However, while it's normal for the rate of breathing to increase as air pressure falls, people with obstructive sleep apnea experienced higher heart rates and more demand for oxygen, compared with healthy people, the researchers found.

"Half of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea would require supplemental oxygen in-flight if current guidelines for those with lung disease were strictly followed if these results are typical," Seccombe said. "In patients with obstructive sleep apnea or other cardiac or vascular disease, it might be wise to have a lower threshold for giving supplemental oxygen until more results are available."

Dr. Ronald D. Chervin, who's with the Michael S. Aldrich Sleep Disorders Laboratory at the University of Michigan, said he agreed that people with obstructive sleep apnea have a greater risk for heart problems during long airline flights, though there has been little research on the topic.

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"I suspect that part of the problem may arise from co-morbid conditions, and especially obesity, which can compromise ventilation and perhaps account for some of the investigators' findings of differences between groups," Chervin said.

More information

To learn more about sleep apnea, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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