Mild Sleep Apnea May Raise Heart Risk

Even Sleep Apnea Patients Who Don't Feel Drowsy in Daytime Are at Risk for Heart Disease

By Caroline Wilbert
WebMD Health News

Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD

Oct. 24, 2008 -- Sleep apnea -- even if it is so mild that people have no daytime drowsiness -- may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, a study shows.

The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, compared patients with mild sleep apnea to a comparison group that didn't have sleep apnea. There were 64 participants with mild sleep apnea and 15 participants without sleep apnea.