Sleep apnea can be deadly. It causes a rise in blood pressure and can lead to strokes. It has been linked to numerous cases of cardiovascular death in the United States. The symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- Gasping for air
- Nightmares
- Waking up frequently during the night
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
The disturbed sleep causes the sufferer to be irritable and have problems with concentration. He or she may wake up with a dull headache and feel groggy and sleepy all day. Apnea episodes (when the sleeper stops breathing) can last 10 seconds or more and can occur hundreds of times every night. This may cause the sleeper to awaken gasping for breath many times during the night. He doesn't get the deep sleep he needs.
However, in addition to fragmented sleep, the apnea causes the oxygen levels in the blood to drop to a dangerous low while carbon dioxide levels rise. This causes cardiac arrhythmia and can lead to fatal heart attacks and strokes.
What causes sleep apnea? In obstructive sleep apnea, the throat closes down and obstructs the breathing. This can be caused by several things: Fatty tissue in the throat area, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or an unusually long uvula ( the fleshy lobe in the middle of the back of the soft palate. )
If you suspect you or a member of your family may be the victim of sleep apnea, arrange for a visit to a sleep lab for testing. There are several methods of treatment including a change in lifestyle, the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and surgery.
Yes. Sleep apnea is deadly. Early recognition and treatment is crucial. Every night of broken sleep, of the strain of gasping for breath, every incident where your oxygen levels drop to dangerously low levels leads you closer to high blood pressure, stroke or heart attack.
