People with obstructive sleep apnea are far more likely to die suddenly in their sleep from heart-related problems than the rest of the population, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
They found out that the pattern for people with obstructive sleep apnea is actually opposite from that of the general population, who are more likely to die from a heart attack, cardiac arrest, or other heart-related incidents during the day.
Sleep apnea is bad enough by itself, as it can lead to worse things, even death.
Sleep apnea death risks have become very rampant. In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers reviewed the death certificates of 112 Minnesota residents who had been tested for sleep apnea and who died suddenly from cardiac causes between the period of July 1987 and July 2003.
Of those who died between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., 46% had obstructive sleep apnea, compared with 21% who had other diagnoses. Among the general population, only 16% die from cardiac causes during the specified hours, the authors note.
How does sleep apnea obstructs your normal breathing pattern? 
The episodes of breathing pauses are called apneas, which literally means “without breath”. An apnea is a period during which breathing either stops or is significantly reduced.
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a narrowing or collapse of throat tissues during sleep. Blood-oxygen levels plummet, and the body responds by sending out a flood of hormonal emergency signals. The sufferer wakes, sometimes 30 or more times an hour, his or her body in full “flight or fight” mode.
Adults suffer from this specific form of sleep apnea, which occurs when air can’t get into the lungs due to a blockage in the upper airway. This condition is most common in people who are overweight, though it can also occur in people of normal weight who have a physical characteristic, such as a large tongue, which can restrict airflow.
These interruptions in breathing typically cause the sleeping person to briefly wake up gasping for air, as many as hundreds of times during the night.
So, how can we prevent these from happening?
- Try to sleep on your side. Most forms of sleep apnea are milder when you sleep on your side.
- Avoid alcohol close to bedtime. Alcohol worsens obstructive and complex sleep apnea. Avoid alcohol for four to six hours before bed.
- Avoid sedative medications. Drugs that relax you or make you sleepy can also worsen sleep apnea.
- If you’re drowsy, avoid driving. If you have sleep apnea you may be abnormally sleepy, which can put you at higher risk of motor vehicle accidents. At times, a close friend or family member might tell you that you appear sleepier than you feel. If this is true, try to avoid driving.
But if you think you may have sleep apnea, get a professional diagnosis and treatment right away so that you can minimize your risks and protect the health of your heart and most importantly to help keep you alive.
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