Tackling Drug-Resistant Hypertension: CPAP Therapy’s Role in Supporting Heart Health May 5, 2025 It’s National Heart Health Awareness Week in Australia – a perfect time to check in on your cardiovascular health. One often-overlooked threat to your heart is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), especially when it occurs alongside drug-resistant high blood pressure. Together, they can significantly raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious health problems.1 But there's good news: a simple sleep treatment called CPAP could make a big difference. OSA is a common sleep disorder that causes your breathing to stop and start many times throughout the night. This happens when the muscles in your throat relax too much, blocking airflow. Your body briefly wakes up—often without you noticing—to start breathing again, which disrupts your sleep and puts strain on your heart. Common signs of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, waking up tired despite a full night’s rest, and morning headaches or a dry mouth.2 Many people also experience poor concentration and irritability.2 More than 70% of people with drug-resistant hypertension (blood pressure that stays high despite taking at least three medications) also have OSA.3 And when these conditions occur together, the effects on your heart can be severe. Thankfully, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy offers an effective solution for those with both OSA and drug-resistant hypertension. CPAP uses a device that blows air through a mask, keeping your airway open while you sleep. By preventing breathing interruptions, CPAP not only improves sleep quality but also helps lower blood pressure. Research shows that just 12 weeks of nightly CPAP use can reduce both 24-hour and nighttime blood pressure, while also helping restore a healthy overnight blood pressure pattern.3 That’s critical because people with OSA often miss the natural dip in blood pressure that should happen while sleeping.4 Even more promising, researchers found that patients with resistant hypertension and the highest blood pressure levels experienced the greatest reductions in blood pressure after using CPAP therapy.5 If you have high blood pressure that’s hard to control, or you’re experiencing symptoms like loud snoring and daytime fatigue—it might be time to speak to your doctor. This Heart Health Week, take a step toward better sleep, better heart health, and a healthier future. 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. Kwon, Younghoon, et al. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension; Critical Overview.” Clinical Hypertension, vol. 30, no. 1, 1 Aug. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40885-024-00276-7. 2. Mayo Clinic. “Sleep Apnea - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 6 Apr. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org. 3. Martínez-García, Miguel-Angel, et al. “Effect of CPAP on Blood Pressure in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Resistant Hypertension: The HIPARCO Randomized Clinical Trial.” JAMA, vol. 310, no. 22, 11 Dec. 2013, pp. 2407–2415, jamanetwork.com, https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281250. 4. “How Sleep Apnea Affects Blood Pressure.” SleepApnea.org, 8 Feb. 2023, www.sleepapnea.org. Accessed 2 May 2025. 5. “The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.”Osu.edu, wexnermedical.osu.edu/mediaroom/pressreleaselisting/sleep-apnea-treatment-helps-resistant-hypertension Accessed 2 May 2025
