Could Sleep Apnea Lead to Death?
Snoozing perilously: That's right, we're talking about sleep apnea, a condition that can cause you to stop breathing for ten seconds or longer, five or more times per hour while you're catching some Z's. And if you don't treat it, you could be facing some serious health complications.
Don't be shocked, but sleep apnea has been linked to sudden cardiac death – that's when your heart abruptly stops beating. If you've got a history of heart disease, you're even more at risk. Studies have shown that both obstructive and central sleep apnea are associated with heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke.
Dr. Catherine Heinzinger, a sleep medicine physician, breaks it down for us: "Sleep apnea puts extra stress on your cardiovascular system. When you stop breathing during the night, your oxygen levels drop, forcing your heart to work harder to deliver oxygen to the areas that need it."
So, when your airway is blocked (like in obstructive sleep apnea), the muscles trying to breathe are exerting pressure on your heart, raising your risk of arrhythmias.
Scary stuff, huh? Well, here's the kicker – researchers have found that people with untreated moderate to severe sleep apnea are three to six times more likely to die from any cause than those without sleep apnea.
Obstructive vs. Central Sleep Apnea: Who's More at Risk?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a mechanical problem that involves blockage or narrowing of your airway. Central sleep apnea, on the other hand, is when there's a disruption in communication between your central nervous system and your respiratory muscles. While less common, central sleep apnea carries a greater risk – it's more closely associated with death and it progresses more quickly from diagnosis to death.
The Consequences of Untreated Sleep Apnea
The longer you let sleep apnea go untreated, the higher the chance you'll develop additional health problems that can impact your quality of life and shorten your life expectancy. These conditions include hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
"Sleep apnea can contribute to obesity, but obesity can also lead to sleep apnea," explains Dr. Heinzinger. "When there's excess weight in your neck, it puts direct pressure on your airway. And when there's excess weight in your abdomen, it pushes up on the airway, making it more likely to collapse."
Treating the Nightmare
Treatment for sleep apnea typically involves continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure therapy (BiPAP), adaptive-servo ventilation therapy (ASV), or sleep apnea hypoglossal nerve stimulation implants (for obstructive sleep apnea only). Long-term treatment not only reduces mortality but also decreases the likelihood of other conditions, like cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
"Treating sleep apnea itself, along with its associated complications, can improve your cardiovascular risk and outcome," says Dr. Heinzinger. "So, if you're experiencing trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or dealing with daytime sleepiness, it's crucial to talk to a healthcare provider about getting checked for sleep apnea as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment can help you get on the road to better rest."
- If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health complications, including sudden cardiac death, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke, especially for those with a history of heart disease.
- Both obstructive and central sleep apnea can put extra stress on the cardiovascular system, leading to increased risk of arrhythmias and the progressive development of cardiovascular diseases.
- Untreated moderate to severe sleep apnea increases the risk of death by three to six times, and is closely associated with conditions such as hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
- Effective treatment of sleep apnea through methods like CPAP, BiPAP, ASV, or sleep apnea hypoglossal nerve stimulation implants not only reduces mortality, but also decreases the risk of other associated conditions like cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
