Sleep apnea is a disorder that characterizes with repeated cessation of breathing during sleep. It is a risky situation, but that does not mean that sleep apnea will kill you. While it may seem like a severe issue, death is very rare. Having said that, sleep apnea is something you should address immediately; here’s why.
What is Sleep Apnea?
It is a condition in which your body involuntarily stops breathing while you sleep. This may occur in episodes throughout the night. Usually, a young adult may stop breathing 5 times each hour. On the other hand, children once.
Sleep Apnea Types
- Central is due to brain dysfunction. It fails to send breathing muscles the right signals. Breathing cessation is 5-15 times per hour.
- Obstructive is the most common type. The soft neck or tissues go large to block the airway causing the halt 15-30 times every hour.
- Complex Version of Sleep Apnea is a combination of central and obstructive sleep apnea. The instances increase to more than 30 times every hour.
Short-term Effects of Sleep Apnea
Short-term effects are:
- Cardiac arrhythmia,
- Atrial fibrillation
- Heart attack
- Stroke
It is a common indicator to have the events increase in number during morning time, the REM.
Long-term
The health effects of the long-term disorder include:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Increased daytime sleepiness
So, while OSA isn’t fatal on its own, many of the problems it can lead to can threaten your life. That makes treating sleep apnea important for protecting your health.
Can Sleep Apnea Actually Kill You?
It is normal to think that recurrent sleeping halts may cause direct death, but it is not true. Sleep apnea will not kill you. Still, you should know that it does increase your susceptibility to developing fatal issues due to the body becoming weak and unstable.
Does Sleep Apnea Gradually Kill You?
Here’s the thing, patients having sleep apnea do not die due to an episode. But, since they become susceptible to fatal diseases, it leads to big troubles, and lack of oxygen is the main reason for their development.
To Sum Up
You can’t suffer from fatality after an episode. However, due to its connection with deadly health risks, your quality of life is reduced to a great extent. That is why we suggest getting in touch with a sleep apnea specialist for treatment from Champions Dental.
