According to a major study, Sleep Apnea plays a major role in the aggravation of cardiac problems, and can lead to sudden cardiac deaths too. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused due to complete or partial obstacles in the air passage. The most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are loud snoring, falling short of breath in sleep, feeling drowsy in the morning, high blood pressure, morning headaches and experiencing mood swings.
How can extensive OSA harm you?
People suffering from critical OSA are more prone to Sudden Cardiac Death. Sudden Cardiac Death refers to an unpredictable death, caused when heart stops functioning suddenly. SCD (Sudden Cardiac Deaths) accounts for nearly 450000 deaths annually in the United States.
An OSA patient experiences irregular heartbeats during their sleep, leading to Sudden Cardiac Death. This is because the patient lacks sufficient breath causing reduction of oxygen supply to the brain. Improper functioning of the brain can lead to stoppage of your heartbeat and thus cause a cardiac arrest.
Sudden Cardiac Death can occur to an OSA patient mostly during the nighttime through cardiac events such as Ischaemia (reduced blood flow to heart) or Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).
Statistics to prove the relation between OSA and SCD
As per the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, more than 12 million people in the US suffer from sleep apnea. According to a recent study, it has been estimated that 7 out of 100 sleep apnea patients suffer from cardiac arrest, if OSA is not treated efficiently.
Who is Vulnerable to OSA?
A study which was carried over for 5 years on about 10000 adults concluded that OSA can potentially be the sole cause for SCD, especially in men, who were found to be twice the times prone to OSA than women.
The risk of OSA and SCD develops with an increase in age. For women, the condition is more likely to develop after menopause. People with large or thick necks are prone to OSA, which can result in Sudden Cardiac Death.
Usually, people belonging to the age group of 30-40 are more prone to Sudden Cardiac Death. The Wisconsin Sleep Study that was carried out for 18 years on people suffering from sleep apnea revealed that death mostly occurred in people who were not going an OSA treatment
Cure for OSA – CPAP Treatment
CPAP is the most commonly suggested treatment for OSA, by sleep physicians. CPAP therapy can reduce the level of OSA and thus, could also lessen the risk of Sudden Cardiac Death.
Benefits of CPAP:
Apart from causing SCD, obstructive sleep apnea can also bring in other serious health risks such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes. A positive change in lifestyle can bring you out from the complications of OSA and save you from the risk of SCD.
Excuses for not Treating OSA
One common misconception we all have regarding our health is that a lack of symptoms means an absence of disease. This is especially true with sleep apnea. Often dubbed as the silent killer, sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea can deteriorate your health from a seemingly harmless snoring to graver conditions like diabetes and heart attack.
How sleep studies are conducted in Sleep labs?
If you are not sleeping well, or find yourself continually tired during the day, your attempt to correct the condition, by taking a pill or heaving your mattress might not necessarily help.
Can Snoring be a Sleep problem?
If you do not snore, you are likely to know someone who does. There are about 45% of adults who snore and the percentage will keep on rising, as they age.
