Sleep
Apnea Can be Deadly if Left Untreated
Sleep apnea is an extremely
dangerous, and sometimes deadly disorder, if not properly treated.
How can sleep apnea cause death? Death can result directly from
apneic events or indirectly from health issues adversely affected
by the sleep apnea. Death can also result from accidents that
are due to exhaustion from sleep apnea.
Oxygen is needed for cells to survive. Oxygen enters the body
by respirations. Respirations are voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary
is when you consciously control a function. Involuntary is when
a body function is automatic. You can stop yourself from breathing,
but only until you pass out, then your autonomic system takes
over and tells the body to breathe. When sleeping, we automatically
breathe.
Oxygen intake is interrupted in the patient who suffers from
sleep apnea. Sometimes the apnea is caused by a short circuit
in the brain. The autonomic system isn't being told to keep the
body breathing.
Other times the apnea is caused by an obstruction of the tongue
or collapse of the airway. If air doesn't enter the lungs, oxygen
cannot be extracted and after about 4 minutes cells will begin
to die. If enough cells die, the body will not be able to compensate
and it will result in death.
Hundreds of short breathing cessations each night harms the body.
Oxygen saturations drop over and over again while carbon dioxide
builds up. This puts stress on the heart.
The heart will enlarge over time if the sleep apnea is allowed
to go on untreated. Blood vessels constrict causing high blood
pressure. Sometimes it will also result in a stroke if too much
pressure causes a vessel to burst. If the bleeding from the stroke
cannot be controlled, it will also result in death.
How else can sleep apnea cause death? Lack of sleep causes our
bodies chemicals to become out of whack. People suffering from
sleep apnea live continuously with off balance chemicals that
never get a chance to regulate, therefore sleep deprived people
often suffer from depression. This depression can lead to suicidal
thoughts.
Impaired judgment and slow reaction times can cause accidental
deaths from automobile crashes or falls. Sleepiness and inappropriately
falling asleep has resulted in fires and accidental CO poisoning.
There have been athletes, actors, authors, and other famous people
who have died due to sleep apnea. the most recent and well known
is Reggie White, a NFL Hall-of-Famer who died at 43 years of age
from an arrhythmia caused by sleep apnea.
So can sleep apnea cause death? Certainly. Can a person with
sleep apnea prevent death? Definitely. Early diagnosis, proper
treatment, and treatment compliance is crucial for saving your
own life.
|  New
Craving Control Diet...
Lose weight the healthy way by choosing a healthy
diet based on nutritious foods that help control food
cravings and binge eating, increase your metabolism,
and reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease.
And without all the sugar and other refined carbs,
you reduce the risk of yeast infections, too.
For details, visit CravingControl
Diet.com |
|
© 2006 - 2008
Jonni Good | All Rights Reserved
1311 V Ave
La Grande, OR 97850
Site Map | About
the Author | Contact Form
Sleep Apnea
OSA Home Page | Privacy
Policy | Sleep Aids
| Sleep Apnea
Resources
Sleep Apnea Risks
| Sleep Apnea
Symptoms | Appliances
| Other Sleep Disorders
Disclaimer:
The information presented on this page and other pages on this
site is based upon the opinions of the author, and on the author's
interpretation of published reports and articles. It is not intended
to replace your relationship with a qualified health care professional,
and is not intended as medical advice.
The author encourages
you to make your own health care decisions based upon knowledge
of the issues of nutrition and health, and in partnership with
a qualified health care professional.
|
