NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research suggests that people who suffer from the nighttime breathing disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, who also have high blood pressure could benefit from good compliance with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment.

Obstructive sleep apnea, which is linked to high blood pressure and other heart conditions, is a common problem in which people stop breathing for short periods during sleep. It occurs when soft tissues in the back of the throat collapses, temporarily block the airway.

With CPAP, a special face mask is worn that continuously blows air into the throat, preventing the tissues from collapsing.