One of the most trusted physicians in Alaska, Dr. John Krehlik functions out of his own sleep medicine practice in Anchorage, where he specializes in treating snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. John Krehlik provides a wide range of services, including sleep therapy, physical exams, and CPAP therapy and is committed to helping patients understand how undiagnosed sleep apnea may affect their daily lives.
A recent study led by the University of California, San Diego, found that individuals who suffer from sleep apnea may lack the capability to burn high levels of oxygen during aerobic exercise. The disorder has already been linked to a higher risk of stroke, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and heart disease, and many researchers believe that VO2 max, or peak VO2, a measure of exercise capacity, is an early marker of increased stroke and heart attack risk. VO2, which is measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing, refers to the maximum oxygen burned by an individual during strenuous exercise.
The study found that individuals with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea had up to 14 percent lower levels of peak oxygen uptake while exercising when compared to individuals without the disorder. Seen among patients with similar body mass indices, this effect indicated that obesity is not necessarily linked to the lower levels of oxygen uptake. Based on these results, researchers believe that sleep apnea is also linked to an impaired exercise capacity; however, further research is still needed.
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Dr. John Krehlik, Clinical and Sleep Medicine Specialist 