COMISA stands for comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea, meaning both disorders occur in the same person. Insomnia involves persistent trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, while obstructive sleep apnea causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. Studies suggest that 30-50% of people with sleep apnea also report insomnia symptoms, and many insomnia sufferers also meet criteria for sleep apnea. Each disorder alone can disrupt rest, but together they often amplify each other’s effects, resulting in fragmented sleep and a body that never fully recovers overnight.
Healthy sleep is essential for the cardiovascular system to reset and recover each night. When sleep is repeatedly interrupted by breathing pauses or frequent awakenings, blood pressure may stay elevated, and stress hormones can rise. Researchers studying nearly one million U.S. veterans found that people with both insomnia and sleep apnea had significantly higher risks of hypertension and cardiovascular disease than those with only one disorder. In some cases, the combined condition was linked to more than triple the risk of heart disease. The overlap appears to intensify inflammation and strain on blood vessels, which may explain the higher risk.
Many people with COMISA experience symptoms that seem unrelated. They might wake up multiple times per night, feel exhausted despite spending enough hours in bed, or struggle with loud snoring and gasping during sleep. Daytime symptoms include brain fog, irritability, and excessive sleepiness. Some individuals experience morning headaches or difficulty concentrating throughout the day. COMISA often goes undiagnosed because insomnia and sleep apnea are traditionally treated as separate problems. A patient may receive medication or therapy for insomnia without being screened for breathing disruptions during sleep, or someone diagnosed with sleep apnea might receive treatment but still experience unaddressed insomnia symptoms. Treatment options include Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, which keeps the airway open during sleep, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which helps retrain the brain to fall asleep and stay asleep more easily. Lifestyle changes including weight management, improved sleep routines, and limiting alcohol before bedtime may also help.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://menafn.com/1110861161/Struggling-To-Stay-Asleep-It-Might-Be-COMISA-And-Its-Harder-On-Your-Heart-Than-You-Think