Sleep Apnea and Thyroid Disorders
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder [11] characterized by frequent starts and stops. It may happen because your brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles controlling your breathing or because your throat muscles relax when you sleep. Sometimes it is caused by both. There are many types of sleep apnea, but obstructive sleep apnea (throat muscle relaxation) is the most common.
If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you may eventually develop heart arrhythmia [12]. While there are many types caused by this condition, bradycardia and atrial fibrillation are among the most common.
The thyroid gland (located in the front part of the throat) produces hormones that are important in controlling metabolism and other critical body functions. Disorders that affect this gland can have implications on many biological processes, including the heart rate.
Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are the two main types of thyroid disorders [13]. Hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid produces too little hormones to meet the body’s requirements. Both conditions can disrupt regular heart function [14] and cause arrhythmia.