Sleep Apnea Death

Persons who suffer from the sleep disorder Sleep Apnea are well-advised to seek immediate help from their physicians.  In order to  broach the topic of the article more fully with respect to Sleep Apnea Death it may do well to provide a little bit of medical-related history regarding Sleep Apnea. Interestingly enough, Sleep Apnea was first reported as recent as

the mid 1960s.   Further, the clinical aspect of the disorder has (historically) been looked upon as more of a characteristic than an actual disorder where disease is progressing in the background.

Early reports with regard to the most common Sleep Apnea termed Obstructive Sleep Apnea describe persons with associated conditions inclusive of:  a) hypercapnia, b) hypoxemia, and c) congestive heart failure.  With Sleep Apnea causing problems associated with the circulatory system naturally the question with regard to the frequency of Sleep Apnea Death comes up.

The definition of Sleep Apnea is a disorder that is characterized by pauses in breath during sleep.  Such an episode as just described is referred to as an apnea which originates from the Greek meaning: to breathe.  The apnea episode is long enough in duration that one or more breaths are absent.  The apnea episodes continue frequently throughout the night.  The definition of the apneic episode is: a (minimum) ten-second interval between breaths.  The result is either:  a) a neurological response where the sufferer awakens; or b) oxygen de-saturation of three to four percent or more within the sufferer's blood.

When the Sleep Apnea is defined on a clinical basis, there are generally five or more events each hour of any kind of apnea.  There are three types of apnea including:  a) Obstructive Sleep Apnea (the most common); b) Central Sleep Apnea; and c) a combination of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea which is referred to as Complex Sleep Apnea.  The difference between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea is:  breathing is stopped by a physical blockage to the airways whereas in the latter breathing is interrupted by lack of effort with regard to respiration.

During studies it was confirmed that Sleep Apnea Death generally occurred from 10:00 p.m. To 6:00 a.m.  The nightmarish time is applicable to sufferers of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  The times mentioned are when a sufferer is at the the highest risk of suddenly dying.  The apnea is most common in persons who are obese.  This is due to the fact the sufferer's fat tissues within the region of the neck tend to press down upon airway passages.  The unfortunate facts with respect to Sleep Apnea Death are provided from a study performed by the Mayo Clinic.

Also cardiac death as a result of Sleep Apnea occurred primarily, once again, during nighttime hours.  Persons without Obstructive Sleep Apnea but with cardiac concerns generally passed away during the daytime.  The opposite was true of sufferers of Obstructive Sleep Apnea:  Their mortality factor (again) weighed heaviest during nighttime hours.  The study conducted by the Mayo clinic could not absolutely confirm if CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure was used in days prior to each individual's passing.  (CPAP is used as a remedy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.)

The results were not surprising to the Mayo team.  This is due to the fact, as the researchers suggested:  There is too little oxygen and too much carbon dioxide in the blood of persons with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  Additionally, the sufferer's nervous system is on edge and their blood pressure increases.  When this happens the walls of the victim's hearts are stressed and this causes a disturbance in the rhythm of the heart.  Further, the sufferer's blood is prone to clotting.  Their blood carries destructive free radical compounds throughout their system.  Needless to say, Sleep Apnea death can result.    The findings were posted in The New England Journal of Medicine.