Sleep Apnea Raises Risk of Death, Especially for Men: Report

Baack · Aug 18, 2009

TUESDAY, Aug. 18 (HealthDay News) -- The classic manifestations of sleep apnea -- loud snoring, interrupted breathing and sleep disruption -- nearly double the risk for chronic disease and premature death among middle-aged and elderly men, according to major new research.
Even patients with moderate sleep apnea face an increased death risk, as much as 17 percent, compared with those who do not have sleep-disordered breathing problems, the decade-long U.S. study finds.
"The primary finding of our study is that sleep apnea can increase the risk of death by about 40 percent, even after other factors have been accounted for," said study lead author Dr. Naresh Punjabi, an associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
"Our study also shows that it is the decrease in oxygen levels during sleep from sleep apnea that explains the increased risk of death," added Punjabi. Men with sleep apnea between the ages of 40 and 70 are particularly at risk of death from any source, but especially from cardiovascular disease, the researchers found.
Punjabi and his colleagues published their findings in the online Aug. 18 issue of the journal PLoS Medicine. The research effort is the largest ever to explore associations between sleep disturbances and illness, they said.
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http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100243639&GT1=31036

Hilltop · Aug 18, 2009

Wow that is scary

112racing · Aug 18, 2009

i found out in march i had osa and while in the hospital a friend that has a few rentals had a tennant die from sleep apnea he knew he had it but refused treatment i never knew how serious it really is

48Packard · Aug 19, 2009

I will always be indebted to Schneider (my current employer) for requiring me to go through a sleep study. With the level of severity of OSA that I have, it's highly possible that it would eventually kill me (that or the direct results of conditions caused by it).

I saw that report, too. I hope it encourages many other drivers to get tested.

Hilltop · Aug 19, 2009

After I read that last night I have not been able to get to sleep...

112racing · Aug 20, 2009

There is considerable evidence that sleep apnea does much more than just disrupt your sleep. Sleep apnea -- which commonly occurs in those who snore loudly -- is defined by pauses in breathing. This may be caused either by obstruction of the airway or by the brain forgetting to prompt a breath. When this happens, oxygen levels fall, carbon dioxide levels rise, and there is a spike in blood pressure, heart rate, and hormones as the body reawakens to breathe. Sleep apnea has been linked to many chronic medical conditions, and even sudden death.
Hypertension
It is estimated that 50-70% of people with sleep apnea have hypertension, or high blood pressure. This increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. Laboratory experiments in animals have shown a cause-and-effect relationship, with the presence of sleep apnea leading to a later development of hypertension. In people with hard-to-control hypertension, it may be that sleep apnea is contributing.
Coronary Heart Disease
The risk for cardiovascular disease increases due to several mechanisms. Sleep apnea can lead to activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This is responsible for the "fight-or-flight" response. Imagine the stress on your body that occurs when a lion is chasing you, this is the sympathetic nervous system at work. In addition, sleep apnea leads to problems with the lining of blood vessels, inflammation, and problems with metabolic regulation. All of these can cause problems with blood vessels and lead to major problems like a heart attack.
Stroke
According to research, the association between stroke and sleep apnea is perhaps as strong as the association between smoking and stroke. There may be several factors involved. During apnea, blood vessels within the brain dilate when the oxygen levels fall. Moreover, individuals with sleep apnea have higher levels of blood factors that make them more susceptible to clots that may lead to stroke. Approximately 40-60% of people with stroke are found to have obstructive sleep apnea.
Chronic Heart Failure
When apneic events occur, the decreased levels of oxygen can cause blood vessels in the lungs to constrict. This increases the blood pressure in these vessels, and over time may lead to chronic right-sided heart failure. High blood pressure is a major contributor to left-sided heart failure. Some studies have shown that as many as 37% of people with heart failure may have sleep apnea.
Sudden Death
In a study of patients who died suddenly who had had recent sleep studies performed, it was shown that almost half of the patients with sleep apnea died between the hours of midnight to 6 a.m., compared with 21% without sleep apnea. It is possible that these individuals died suddenly during periods of apnea.
The Good News
The good news is that there is effective treatment for sleep apnea, called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), and this can help eliminate many of these risks associated with the disease.
Sources:
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http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/sleepandgeneralhealth/a/deadlyapnea.htm

walkfirepath · Aug 21, 2009

48Packard said: ↑

I will always be indebted to Schneider (my current employer) for requiring me to go through a sleep study. With the level of severity of OSA that I have, it's highly possible that it would eventually kill me (that or the direct results of conditions caused by it).

I saw that report, too. I hope it encourages many other drivers to get tested.
Click to expand...

So can you run your CPAP (if you're on one) in the sleeper? I'm asking because I'm headed for the sleep lab soon myself.

112racing · Aug 21, 2009

many cpap machines will run on a 12 volt source (lighter socket) but you will not be able to use the heater on the humidifier (i don't anyway for myself i just leave it cold ) but if you need the heater then you will need an inverter but i assume the manufacturers will respond to this in the future

Mastertech · Aug 24, 2009

It wasn't long after I found out that I had sleep apnea I had surgery which appears to have stop my sleep apnea.

I tried my best to use the cpap machine, there just wasn't anyway I could stand that thing.

Big Don · Aug 24, 2009

I didn't know there was a surgical option. But I can say that, with the lack of luck I've had with "surgical corrections," I would do one heck of a lot rather than "going under the knife."

I was actually surprised that I took to the CPAP as well as I did. I don't like anything on my face, I am claustrophobic, and would never have believed I could sleep with a mask on.

What I believe, is that I was in such bad shape when I finally DID get around to getting tested, and getting the machine, that I could have slept through anything. Anyhow, I think it is really the greatest thing to come down the pike.

Yeah, once in a while it will slip out of adjustment, and the straps have to be readjusted. But for the most part, at least in my case, it truly was a Gift From God!

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