Many people wonder whether sleep apnea is fatal. Sleeping breathing pauses are probably not what caused the death. Your risk of dying from other serious illnesses, however, could increase. Sleep apnea exacerbates a number of medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Nearly 30 million Americans experience sleep apnea despite only wanting a good night’s sleep. Additionally, this sizeable number does not include those who have not received a diagnosis. A severe sleep disorder called sleep apnea seriously disturbs not only your own sleep but also the sleep of those around you. A lack of treatment can have fatal consequences.
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What is Sleep Apnea?
Breathing stops frequently during the night if you have sleep apnea. Something blocking the airway or a malfunctioning breathing reflex could be to blame for this. There are three types of sleep apnea:
Central: Breathing muscles and the brain cannot communicate.
Obstructive: Soft tissues in the throat or neck are blocking the airway. This is the most frequent type.
Complex: In this case, obstructive and central sleep apnea are both presents.
You may stop and start breathing up to 400 times per night as a result of sleep apnea. As a result, the body is deprived of the oxygen it needs to function at its best. All those stops and starts could be detrimental to both your personal and professional lives.
When Does Sleep Apnea Become Serious?
There are various degrees of sleep apnea. Breathing pauses are thought to occur up to five times an hour for adults5 and six times an hour for children6. These occurrences can sometimes be found during regular sleep-stage transitions.
If breathing disturbances occur more frequently, a sleep study may be used to diagnose OSA. The following categories are used to classify sleep apnea based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI):
Mild: 5-14 events per hour
Moderate: 15-30 events per hour
Severe: More than 30 events per hour
It’s important to comprehend the level of oxygen deprivation these events cause. When oxygen levels fall below 90%, hypoxemia develops.
If the patient has heart or lung disease, every episode of apnea could result in a sharp drop in oxygen levels. The body may experience increased stress as a result overnight. Chronic oxygen deprivation can have both long- and short-term effects.
Can Sleep Apnea Kill You?
Some claim that apnea may not actually be the reason you die while you sleep. When the body senses that it is not getting enough oxygen while it is sleeping, it willfully wakes up. At this point, the breathing airways widen, and breathing resumes. This mechanism prevents you from suffocating while you sleep.
That isn’t the problem, though. Actually, it is absurd to claim that AIDS does not cause death in humans. No, they die of HIV-related complications, which is a given. Diabetics can attest to this as well. Contrary to popular belief, diabetes does not instantly kill a person; rather, it results in a number of long-term complications like shortened lifespan, disability, pain, and dysfunction.
Semantics cannot alter the reality that those who have sleep apnea face higher mortality risks than those who do not. Sleep apnea disrupts circadian rhythms, alters body and brain chemistry, impairs breathing and cardiac function, raises blood pressure, and quickens heart rate. If left unchecked, it will undoubtedly result in a higher mortality rate for those who do not receive treatment.
Short-Term Risks
Breathing pauses may result in cardiac arrhythmia, which may lead to cardiac arrest.8 Breathing pauses may also cause atrial fibrillation, a heart attack (myocardial infarction), and even stroke.
These incidents appear to be more frequent in the morning, which is also when REM sleep is more common and when sleep apnea is more likely to happen. Studies show that between the hours of midnight and six in the morning, there is a relative risk of passing away suddenly while sleeping. is about 2.5 times higher for people with OSA.
The good news is that CPAP therapy for OSA (continuous positive airway pressure) appears to lower the risk of the majority of serious complications and the likelihood that OSA will result in long-term cardiac problems.
Chronic Risks
There is evidence that persistent breathing problems during sleep can have a serious negative impact on health. This could increase the prevalence of diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure (hypertension).
It has also been connected to depression and memory problems like Alzheimer’s disease.
It could be dangerous and makes people drowsier throughout the day.
In light of this, many of the problems that OSA can lead to can put your life in danger even though it isn’t always fatal. So, if you want to maintain good health, you must get sleep apnea treatment.
Who is at Risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Everyone is susceptible to developing sleep apnea. People of all sexes and sizes are affected. It is erroneously believed to only affect adults with bulkier bodies. People who are within a healthy weight range and children are also susceptible to sleep apnea.
Classic risk factors of sleep apnea include:
Heavier body weight: If you are heavier, more fat can collect along the upper airway and reduce its opening. This issue affects about 70% of adults who have sleep apnea.
Larger neck size: Do your shirts have snug-fitting collars? The size of the neck is correlated with the amount of tissue at the base of the tongue and in the upper airway. The airflow might be stopped by this.
Enlarged tonsils: The large tonsil tissue at the back of the throat can obstruct the windpipe. Smaller nasal passages (at the back of the nose) can also result from large adenoids. Both might make breathing challenging.
Chronic nasal congestion: Since this usually gets worse at night, breathing might be more challenging.
Alcohol: As a result, airflow obstruction may occur due to the tongue and airway muscles losing tone.
Menopause: The muscles of the tongue may relax as a result of the decline in progesterone that follows the start of menopause. Additionally, this group tends to put on weight.
Smoking: As a result of the irritants in cigarette smoke, throat and nasal swelling may occur. As a result, the airway could become restricted.
Genetics: Your genetic makeup contributes to almost 40% of sleep apnea cases. If you possess certain physical traits, such as the shape of your jaw and airway, you are more likely to inherit sleep apnea.
Close Note: It Shouldn’t Be Ignored
If you or a loved one is currently afflicted with sleep apnea, you should have a medical evaluation. Breathing problems while you sleep shouldn’t be ignored because they can develop into more serious problems over time.
Even though other symptoms or signs may hint at the diagnosis, a sleep study will give you a definitive explanation for the cause. The good news is that there are effective treatment options, like using a CPAP machine or an oral appliance.
Speak to your healthcare provider to get the help you need to breathe and sleep more comfortably. You’ll be pleased with your choice.