Are You Sleeping on a Hidden Cause of High Blood Pressure? May 15, 2025 Could something as simple as the way you breathe at night be affecting your blood pressure? With World Hypertension Day tomorrow, it's the perfect time to raise awareness about one of the most overlooked contributors to high blood pressure: poor sleep—specifically, a condition called sleep apnea. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called the “silent killer.” That’s because many people don’t experience noticeable symptoms until damage has already begun.1 Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious complications like heart disease and stroke.1 Sleep apnea is another common but underdiagnosed condition that may quietly impact your health. In Australia, 20% of the general population have moderate to severe sleep apnea.2 It causes frequent pauses in breathing during sleep, which can result in loud snoring, choking during sleep, and daytime fatigue.1 Like hypertension, sleep apnea often goes unnoticed unless a bed partner observes the symptoms or a doctor recommends a sleep study.1 What many people don’t realise is that these two conditions are closely linked—especially in cases of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common form of the disorder. In OSA, the airway collapses during sleep, leading to repeated awakenings and oxygen drops throughout the night.1 These interruptions activate the body’s stress response, which increases heart rate and blood pressure.1 Research shows that up to 50% of people with OSA also have high blood pressure, and 30% of people with hypertension have OSA.3 Among those with treatment-resistant hypertension (where blood pressure remains high despite medications), up to 75% also have OSA.4 One important clue? In healthy sleep, blood pressure “dips” at night by 10–20%.5 People with OSA often miss this dip.1 Their blood pressure stays high, or spikes due to breathing pauses—especially during early morning hours, a phenomenon known as the “morning surge.”1 Over time, this constant stress can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions.1 Fortunately, there is help. The most effective treatment for OSA is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure).6 A CPAP machine delivers a gentle stream of air through a mask, keeping your airway open during sleep. Studies show that CPAP therapy not only improves sleep quality but can also reduce health risks associated with untreated sleep apnea, such as hypertension.1 This World Hypertension Day, it’s a good time to check in on your health. If you snore, wake up tired, or have been told your blood pressure is high, talk to your doctor. Treating sleep apnea may be one important step toward protecting your health. How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time. If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&C’s apply. Citations 1. Fry, Alexa. “How Sleep Apnea Affects Blood Pressure.” Sleep Foundation, 1 Feb. 2021, www.sleepfoundation.org. 2. Soenen, Stijn, et al. “Sleep Health Primary Care Clinical Resource.” Australian Journal of General Practice, vol. 53, no. 6, 1 June 2024, pp. 349–355, doi.org. 3. Cai, Anping, et al. “Hypertension and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” Hypertension Research, vol. 39, no. 6, 18 Feb. 2016, pp. 391–395, doi.org. 4. Bangash, Amna, et al. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension: A Review of the Relationship and Pathogenic Association.” Cureus, vol. 12, no. 5, 22 May 2020, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, doi.org. 5. Bloomfield, Dennis, and Alex Park. “Night Time Blood Pressure Dip.” World Journal of Cardiology, vol. 7, no. 7, 26 July 2015, pp. 373–376, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 6. "Treatment Options for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) | Sleep Health Foundation.” Www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au, www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au
