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Can sleep apnea cause death while sleeping?
Although uncommon, it is possible to die during sleep from untreated obstructive sleep apnea. Observational research has found that OSA increases a person’s risk of sudden death. This risk is believed to be higher in people of older age, in people with a critical illness, and in people with severe OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea is considered a serious medical condition. Complications can include: Daytime fatigue and sleepiness. Because of a lack of restorative sleep at night, people with obstructive sleep apnea often have severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability. The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that 38,000 people in the United States die each year from heart disease with sleep apnea as a complicating factor. People with sleep apnea have difficulty breathing or stop breathing for short periods while sleeping. This treatable sleep disorder often goes undiagnosed. Anything that could narrow your airway such as obesity, large tonsils, or changes in your hormone levels can increase your risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea happens when your brain does not send the signals needed to breathe. If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can shorten your life from anywhere between 12-15 years. While there is no permanent cure for obstructive sleep apnea, diagnosis and treatment will alleviate its effects.
Does sleep apnea cause brain damage?
What is obstructive sleep apnea? OSA is a chronic disease that involves repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep. These breathing pauses can prevent your body from supplying enough oxygen to the brain. In severe cases this lack of oxygen can lead to brain damage. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when a child stops breathing during sleep. The cessation of breathing usually occurs because there is a blockage (obstruction) in the airway. Obstructive sleep apnea affects many children and is most commonly found in children between 2 and 6 years of age, but can occur at any age. By and large, obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic and permanent condition. But, by undertaking surgeries and making some lifestyle changes, you can treat this condition. However, if none of this works, you can get a CPAP machine for ensuring a peaceful night of sleep. What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder. People who have sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night.
What happens if you don’t treat sleep apnea?
Dangerous complications of sleep apnea Heart damage and heart failure. Sleep apnea causes an increase in pressure in the blood vessels around your heart and on some of the chambers of your heart itself. That pressure increase puts a strain on your heart, ultimately causing damage to the heart muscle itself. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your breathing is interrupted during sleep, for longer than 10 seconds at least 5 times per hour (on average) throughout your sleep period. These periods are called hypopneas when your breathing is reduced and you’re not taking in enough oxygen. People who have sleep apnea can wake up 15 to 25 times an hour during sleep – without knowing it. The condition causes them to awaken for only a few seconds, but leaves the sufferer feeling exhausted, even after a full night’s rest. Brain damage caused by severe sleep apnea is reversible. DARIEN, IL – A neuroimaging study is the first to show that white matter damage caused by severe obstructive sleep apnea can be reversed by continuous positive airway pressure therapy.
Does sleep apnea shorten your lifespan?
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, moderate sleep apnea increases your risk of death by 17%. The impact on life expectancy with untreated severe sleep apnea is even more profound: It roughly doubles your risk of death. Sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke for middle-aged and older men and also increases the stroke risk in middle-aged and older women. “Sleep apnea is a common but under recognized risk factor for stroke. Obstructive sleep apnea is classified by severity: Severe obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour) Moderate obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 15 and 30. Mild obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 5 and 15. Sleep apnea can happen to anyone, even if you are in your twenties. If you think you might have it, schedule a consultation to discuss your treatment options with Dr. Bruce Kanehl by calling 904-731-2162. Although sleep apnea can occur during any stage of sleep, it usually occurs during the deepest stages of sleep, when the tissues of the upper airway are the most relaxed.
Who is at high risk for sleep apnea?
The Takeaway. The major risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea are obesity, a family history of snoring or apnea, and being male. Obstructive sleep apnea can also contribute to weight gain and obesity. Research has shown that approximately 40 percent of the people living with obesity also have obstructive sleep apnea, and 70 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea are obese. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, sometimes referred to as OSA. With OSA, the throat muscles in the back of your throat, which naturally become more relaxed during sleep, collapse too much to allow for normal breathing, according to the AASM. Now, researchers have shown a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and a higher rate of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Researchers in Dublin, Ireland reported the higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with OSA. People with sleep apnea frequently wake up for a few seconds to gasp for air. This can happen hundreds of times a night in people with severe sleep apnea, Owens says. “If someone witnesses you waking up repeatedly at night, it’s very suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea,” he tells WebMD. Obtain a Prescription You should have a prescription from a doctor to obtain the home sleep apnea test. First, you need to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or a sleep specialist, who will ask you about your symptoms and pre-screen you for obstructive sleep apnea.
Does sleep apnea get worse with age?
The prevalence of sleep apnoea increases with age, although the severity of the disorder, as well as the morbidity and mortality associated with it, may actually decrease in the elderly. A decline in cognitive functioning in older adults with sleep apnoea may resemble dementia. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can negatively affect the patient’s physical and psychological functioning, as well as their quality of life. A major consequence of OSA is impaired cognitive functioning. Indeed, several studies have shown that OSA mainly leads to deficits in executive functions, attention, and memory. The impact on life expectancy with untreated severe sleep apnea is even more profound: It roughly doubles your risk of death. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, studies have established that sleep apnea typically decreases life expectancy by several years. Because people with sleep apnea tend to sleep poorly, they often have extreme daytime sleepiness. Not only are they sleepy, but they can also have trouble concentrating and experience mood problems such as depression. Having sleep apnea increases your risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome. This disorder, which includes high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood sugar and an increased waist circumference, is linked to a higher risk of heart disease. Sleep apnea also has an effect on mental health, and those with sleep apnea have a far higher risk of anxiety, panic disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, or even schizophrenia. It’s not surprising that sleep apnea can cause anxiety.
Is sleep apnea always curable?
While there is no cure for sleep apnea, studies show that certain lifestyle factors can reverse or make your sleep apnea less intense. Other treatment or surgical options can also reverse the condition. Sleep apnea happens when your upper airway muscles relax while you sleep. This causes you to not get enough air. Surgical treatments can eliminate or improve sleep apnea so that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or other appliances are no longer needed. Studies have shown that taking a combination of vitamin C and vitamin E can reduce the number of apnea episodes in the night. They also improve sleep quality and reduce the amount of daytime sleepiness. Tests to detect sleep apnea include: Nocturnal polysomnography. During this test, you’re hooked up to equipment that monitors your heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep. Neurologists tend to provide treatment for sleeping disorders when the cause is thought to be neurological. Central sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome can all be related to neurological issues and are best treated by a neurologist.