When Sleep, Heart, and Mind Fall Out of Sync May 14, 2025 Feeling tired, stressed, or out of breath lately? It might not just be “getting older” or a busy schedule. Your heart, your mind, and even how you sleep at night could all be working together. Surprisingly, heart health, mental health, and sleep apnea are deeply connected. And when one starts to slip, the others often follow. Understanding how they’re linked could be the first step to feeling like yourself again. The Link Between the Heart and the Mind Heart health and mental health are more connected than most people realize. When your heart isn’t working as efficiently, your brain may receive less oxygen and nutrients, which can affect focus, memory, and overall mental sharpness.1 On the flip side, chronic stress and anxiety can raise blood pressure, increase inflammation, and put added strain on the heart.2 Over time, this creates a cycle where mental and physical health keep feeding into each other—making it harder to feel your best. When the Heart Struggles, So Does Your Energy If your heart isn’t working at its best, your energy levels drop. Everyday activities feel harder, and that often leads to being less active. Over time, a lack of movement can lead to weight gain and reduced physical fitness—two major risk factors for sleep apnea.3 How Weight Gain Ties into Sleep Apnea Weight gain, especially around the neck and midsection, increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.3 Sleep apnea is a serious condition characterized by snoring, choking during sleep and feeling tired whilst awake. Many people don’t realize they have it—it’s often a bed partner who notices the snoring or gasping first. Sleep Apnea Makes Everything Worse When your sleep is poor, everything else becomes harder. You’re more tired during the day, less likely to exercise, and more likely to gain weight—fueling the cycle all over again. Sleep apnea also increases the risk of raised blood pressure and puts additional strain on the heart, increasing the risk of serious heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation by 2–4 times, stroke by 2 times and heart failure by 58%.4,5,6,7 Breaking the Cycle with CPAP Therapy The good news is that sleep apnea is highly treatable. CPAP therapy helps keep your airway open while you sleep using gentle air pressure, allowing you to breathe normally through the night. With better sleep comes more energy, better mood, and support for heart and weight health. Start with Better Sleep If you're experiencing low energy, mood swings, weight gain, or snoring, sleep apnea could be the underlying cause. Talk to your doctor to find out if a sleep study is the right next step for you. 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. Heiser, Tom. “The Relationship between the Health of These Major Organs May Surprise You.” Norton Healthcare, 20 Nov. 2024, nortonhealthcare.com. 2. Katella, Kathy. “Yes, Stress Can Hurt Your Heart: 3 Things to Know.” Yale Medicine, 12 Feb. 2024, www.yalemedicine.org. 3. Wiseman, Jill. “How Weight Affects Sleep Apnea.” Sleep Foundation, 28 Aug. 2020, www.sleepfoundation.org. 4. Newsom, Rob. “Is Sleep Apnea Connected to Heart Disease?” Sleep Foundation, 5 Feb. 2021, www.sleepfoundation.org. 5. Gottlieb, Daniel J., et al. “Prospective Study of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Incident Coronary Heart Disease and Heart Failure.” Circulation, vol. 122, no. 4, 27 July 2010, pp. 352–360, doi.org. 6. Tung, Patricia, and Elad Anter. “Atrial Fibrillation and Sleep Apnea: Considerations for a Dual Epidemic.” Journal of Atrial Fibrillation, vol. 8, no. 6, 30 Apr. 2016, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 7. Wang, Xia, et al. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.” International Journal of Cardiology, vol. 169, no. 3, Nov. 2013, pp. 207–214, doi.org.
