Study found 18 fold higher incidence of atrial fibrillation other arrhythmias. Whether you know you have sleep apnea or suspect you might if you wake up and realize your heart is beating too fast or if your heartbeat feels irregular at any time of the day or night don t wait to seek help. Why Obstructive Sleep Apnea Needs To Be Identified And Treated Study shows the more someone stops breathing at night the greater the risk of atrial fibrillation. Irregular heartbeat sleep apnea . If a patient experiences irregular heartbeat like atrial fibrillation the doctor may recommend a test for obstructive sleep apnea or osa. And more information links may no longer work. Sleep apnea and irregular hearbeat a study found that the odds of suffering a heartbeat abnormality were 18 times higher immediately after an episode of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea has been linked to both atrial fibrillation a major risk factor for stroke and ventricular tachycardia a cause of sudden death. Patients w...