AFAP Board Practice Exam 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Obstructive sleep apnea is a significant condition frequently associated with resistant hypertension in adults. This condition leads to repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, which can cause intermittent hypoxia (reduced oxygen levels) and activate the sympathetic nervous system. This activation results in increased vascular resistance and higher blood pressure. Over time, the persistent effects of obstructive sleep apnea can make hypertension difficult to control despite treatment, contributing to the classification of resistant hypertension.

While other conditions like renal artery stenosis, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus can indeed influence blood pressure regulation and may complicate hypertension management, obstructive sleep apnea stands out due to its strong and prevalent association with resistant hypertension. Its presence can exacerbate hypertension, making it more challenging for individuals to achieve adequate blood pressure control. Thus, it is essential for healthcare providers to screen for obstructive sleep apnea in patients with resistant hypertension to optimize their treatment approach.