Sleep problems may be more than just a sign of tiredness, as they could indicate underlying health concerns, including conditions that affect the heart, according to Dr Vanessa Apea, Chief Executive Officer of The Accra London Health Center.

Speaking on GTV, monitored by GhanaWeb, on July 29, 2026, Dr Apea warned that obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where a person’s airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, may be linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

She explained that people with obstructive sleep apnea often experience interruptions in breathing, which may cause gasping episodes during sleep.

“So, if someone has obstructive sleep apnea and they're not getting air, their airways are collapsing down, and they're having these gasps; that can indicate a risk factor of heart disease as well,” Dr Apea said.

According to her, the relationship between sleep apnea and heart disease can work both ways, making it important for people to pay attention to symptoms associated with poor sleep.

“It can be chicken and egg, so one can cause the other. It can be vice versa,” she added.

Dr Apea also noted that the growing sleep crisis is influenced by several interconnected factors, including lifestyle choices, increasing obesity rates, and metabolic conditions.

She explained that unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity, and weight gain are contributing to conditions such as insulin resistance, which can have wider effects on the body.

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“When we talk about lifestyles, definitely with diet and less exercise, we're seeing more obesity. We're seeing when we talk about the metabolic aspect of things of insulin resistance,” she said.

She indicated that these conditions can affect breathing patterns and increase the likelihood of airway collapse during sleep.

“And that is all related to our weight increases as well. And all of those can then have a knock-on effect on your breathing and your airways collapsing down. Then that can have an effect on your heart as well,” Dr Apea explained.

Beyond lifestyle factors, she said existing medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes can also contribute to sleep-related problems.

“Everything about us is connected. So if our lifestyle can be impacting it, but also if we have other medical conditions like heart disease or diabetes, things that we are seeing a lot in society, those can also have an effect as well,” she stated.

Dr Apea stated that sleep health is closely connected to other aspects of the body, stressing the need for the public to pay attention to sleep problems and seek medical attention when necessary.

JKB/VPO

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