Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea significantly suppresses overnight HRV. Each apneic event triggers sympathetic activation that prevents normal parasympathetic recovery during sleep.
Methods
Polysomnography studies comparing HRV in OSA patients vs healthy controls
Key Findings
- OSA patients had 20-40% lower overnight RMSSD
- HRV suppression correlated with apnea severity (AHI)
- CPAP treatment improved HRV within 2-4 weeks
- Untreated OSA associated with increased cardiovascular risk
Limitations
Severity varies widely; mild OSA may have minimal HRV impact
What This Means for You
If your overnight HRV is chronically low despite good sleep habits, consider sleep apnea testing—especially if you snore or wake unrefreshed. Treatment with CPAP often dramatically improves HRV.
Source
Read the original paper in Sleep Medicine ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2025-01-09