If you have heart disease multiple episodes of low blood oxygen hypoxia or hypoxemia can lead to sudden death from an irregular heartbeat. Sleep apnea does more than make you sleepy though. 3 Secure Cool Tricks Can Snoring Cause Heart Problems What Is The Of all the reasons to get a good night s sleep protecting your heart might not be top of mind. Does sleep apnea cause heart problems . It has been linked with heart arrhythmias irregular heartbeats atrial fibrillation a common type of irregular heartbeat heart failure heart attacks and strokes most likely because sleep apnea is associated with high blood pressure. When this happens your brain partially wakes from sleep to send signals to the nervous system to constrict the blood vessels tighten up in order to increase the flow of oxygen to your heart and brain. Eating the perfect diet and exercising regularly will only take you so far if your body is not able to get adequate amounts of real rest. Besides obesity contribut...