Sleep Apnea May Almost Double the Risk of Sudden Death

Medical News Today ^ | August 17, 2021 | Leigh Ann Green

[nickcarraway]

-Obstructive sleep apnea has become a worldwide health concern. -Sleep apnea has associations with an increased risk of sudden and cardiovascular-related deaths. -Future research should focus on decreasing and preventing this serious sleep condition.

Obstructive sleep apnea has become a globally prevalent health concern. Recent literature estimates that more than 1 billion individuals experience this chronic sleep disorder.

A study by Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, which appears in BMJ Open Respiratory Research, found that those who receive a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea are at a significantly greater risk of dying suddenly than those who do not have the condition.

The word apnea means “without breath.” During obstructive sleep apnea, there is a reduction or complete blockage of airflow during sleep. This sleep disturbance manifests itself in various ways, including excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, heavy snoring, and non-refreshing sleep.

Serious consequences of sleep apnea

While these symptoms can potentially affect a person’s quality of life, they can also have even more serious consequences.

Researchers at Penn State performed a systematic review of the literature and identified 22 studies focusing on obstructive sleep apnea, cardiac death, and sudden death. The team analyzed the combined data of these studies by meta-analysis.

The quantitative analysis included a combined total of over 42,000 individuals across the world. The mean age of participants was 62 years old, and 64% were men.

The meta-analysis showed that individuals with obstructive sleep apnea were approximately twice as likely to experience sudden death than those who did not have the sleep condition. The study also identified that obstructive sleep apnea resulted in a nearly twofold risk of cardiovascular death that increased with age.

According to Dr. John S. Oh, assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and one of the study authors, many patients do not realize the seriousness of an apnea diagnosis.

“Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition that can have fatal consequences,” stresses Dr. Oh.

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Timely diagnosis and treatment

In an interview with Medical News Today, Dr. Ryan Soose, director of the UPMC Sleep Division, said: “We’ve known for a long time that untreated sleep apnea patients are more likely to develop high blood pressure, heart disease, and a number of other health conditions. But the risk of sudden death reported in this study is eye-opening and makes a timely diagnosis and treatment even more pressing.”

The effects of the nervous system on the human sleep cycle may explain the association between sleep apnea and the increased rate of sudden death.

Because of the intermittent lack of oxygen that people with sleep apnea experience, the central nervous system may be over-aroused to increase airflow. In turn, this can cause increases in both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of an individual.

In addition, someone with sleep apnea will experience oxidative stress, which can contribute to an imbalance of antioxidants in the body. This imbalance can damage cells and speed up the aging process, causing numerous health problems over time.

In a podcast, Dale Coller, DO, from Holland Hospital Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine in Michigan, OH, has commented on the serious stressors resulting from obstructive sleep apnea.

“Every time [the throat] closes off, it’s very similar to if someone is being choked,” Coller explains. “This can happen hundreds of times in one night, causing the person stress and fragmentation of their sleep.”

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“Providing accessible and affordable treatments for populations with [obstructive sleep apnea] may ultimately reduce adverse health outcomes for these individuals,” added co-author Emily Heilbrunn.

Dr. Soose agreed:

“Rather than the traditional cookie-cutter approach, I believe that cutting-edge sleep apnea management involves customizing a more holistic and combination treatment plan to each individual’s unique needs.”

The Penn State researchers noted some study limitations.

Because the research involved 22 separate studies, factors other than obstructive sleep apnea may have affected the data in each study.

Also, although the meta-analysis included studies from North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, and South America, there were no studies from Africa. The authors note that more research is needed to determine if the results from this study apply to African populations.

In addition, they stress the need for treatments and interventions related to decreasing and eventually preventing obstructive sleep apnea across the globe to optimize survival and increase a person’s quality of life.

[Stingray51]

I don’t doubt for a moment that sleep apnea is highly correlated with terrible health outcomes. But once again, it is difficult to tell whether the sleep apnea itself is the cause or if it is a condition common to people who are overweight or have high blood pressure or lots of conditions that may be the cause of cardiac events etc. So my question is, for example, should the focus be on getting these people on breathing machines or should we be desperately focused on weight loss?

[RummyChick]

If you are mechanically inclined you might be able to take out the foam. That australian cpap youtube guy took apart the resmed and showed how you could take the foam out. Might be similar videos for the recall machine

[onthelookout777]

In some cases, taking supplements of the amino acid L-Tryptophan (easily available over-the-counter) can be surprisingly effective in relieving sleep apnea.

The dosage used in the following study (2500mg at bedtime) may be far higher than what some people need. It may be helpful to experiment to find what dosage works best for an individual. Too small or too high a dose may not work at all. Doses as small as 250mg or 500mg may be very helpful for some people.

This small study back in the 1980s had encouraging results:

L-tryptophan in the treatment of impaired respiration in sleep.
https://europepmc.org/article/med/6360258

Note: Several decades ago, in 1989, L-Tryptophan was temporarily taken off the market by the FDA after being linked to a sometimes fatal neurological condition called eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. According to WebMD: “Some research suggests the sickness was due to contaminants that got into the supplements during manufacturing in a factory in Japan. The supplements have since been re-introduced to the U.S. market.”
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/l-tryptophan-uses-and-risks

[KC_for_Freedom]

I am ignoring the recall. My sleep apnea is so severe that the risk of getting some Ozone in the foam is less than the risk of complications from sleep apnea. I have had chronic Afib as well as pnemonia and even an attack of acute respiratory failure. The sleep study showed that I needed more pressure than either a cpap or bipap machine could provide. So I have a Phillips Trilogy 100. Great machoine — except for the foam — and now I sleep through the night. I also got a Check me device that I can wear at night. It records O2 and heart beat to my phone. I am seeing gradual improvement showing less time below 90% O2 sat. (only a few minutes per night. I think this is going to allow me to become semi active again. And yes, I am losing weight.

[MayflowerMadam]

Hasn’t that fact been common knowledge for decades? It seems I heard that years ago.

[Taxman]

Get some of these: https://cpapsupplies.com/vent-bacteria-filter-single-use.

When I called my pulmonologist and told her that my Phillips CPAP was on a recall list, and that I could not going to quit using it (I believe that I am alive today because I have been using the CPAP since 2002), she suggested that I start using an In-Line Bacterial Viral Filter.

I have been using one since Tuesday night, and, so far, so good! I think it is helping me sleep better, and I am not coughing as much “sinus drainage” up during the day. I am liking it, so far!

Despite the recall, those of us who are using CPAP machines need to keep using them - the filter will keep the foam particles causing the recall FRom getting to your lungs.

I’ll keep using the filter, even after Phillips sends me a new CPAP!

[bella1]

Makes sense

[rohn]

Have severe sleep apnea. Stopped breathing 26 times/hour as long as 43 seconds. Destroyed some relationships. Unable to tolerate CPAP.
Use an oral device that looks like a pair of dentures, pushes jaw down and out to open airways. Not to be confused with the cheap things you see on TV, this runs $2500+. Insurance covered 80%. Still the best $500 ever spent in my life. Look for Somnident. (way easier to carry on plane, too!).
Has prolonged my life and first time I ever dreamed! (REM sleep)
My dentist required a trachea connection and machine to sleep. His son actually did a procedure to break his jaw and rebuild jaw longer.
Avoid cutting/trimming procedures of tongue/throat/tonsils. Very painful and grows back in three+ years.
Hope this helps!

[Seaplaner]

I've been on APAP for over 15 years, and it's a life-changing, positive therapy.

I hated the machine at first, but after a week or so, it's my sweet dream machine.

Sleep apnea is highly under diagnosed, and a lot of folks don't know that they have it. The list of potential sequelae from sleep apnea is quite long. Go online and read some of the success stories. Folks with depression, hypertension, and a long list of other diseases don't know that they can result from sleep apnea.

The test is easy, and the therapy xPAP is easier than most think. And, it's drug-free.

The major side-effects of xPAP therapy? Improved focus, improved mood, and longevity.

[John S Mosby]

Father in law said his bi-pap saved his life (and it did, no more poor restless sleep nights)- and the cardiologist said it cut out nearly completely the nightly denial of oxygen to the heart, that wears people out gradually even while they try to sleep. He was referred by the cardio.

Have not kept up with the newer tech on this, but there are smaller, portable units for travel that are not as intrusive.
Just so amazing the solution this gives to being dang tired.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Get an O2Ring to complement your CPAP machine. It is a small pulse oximeter you wear while your sleeping and measures your pulse and SpO2 concentration at one second intervals. The data from the ring loads wirelessly to your phone app and to your computer. The data can then be imported into OSCAR and you can see your SpO2 levels right along with your other sleep parameters. I personally find the O2Ring data to be a lot more insightful than what OSCAR provides. The O2Ring is sold on Amazon.

It reports your SpO2 3% drops and 4% drops, your average SpO2, your average pulse, and an overall O2 score. Their computer software also shows a time histogram with SpO2 in 5% blocks. You see your fraction of time spent at 85%-90% saturation; 90%-95% saturation; etc.

Does it help improve your sleep or diagnose your sleep problems? In my opinion, no. It does tell me if I ate too late; if I had too much to drink; if my evening meal was hard to digest; if I'm stressed out and have a bad night's sleep. But I knew all those things without having a pulse oximeter recording all night long.

During COVID, it is useful for watching for changes in your SpO2 at night that could be an early warning signal that you are possibly coming down with COVID or some other illness.

[ConservativeMind]

Thank you! This is the sort of real world, practical advice I look for.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

There are two types of sleep apnea with different root causes:
1. Obesity which causes “obstructive sleep apnea.” Your airway collapses when you are in certain sleeping positions, mainly on your back. It gets much worse they higher your BMI. Controlling your weight can largely control this. In some cases, surgery can be effective if you have certain anatomical abnormalities.

2. Central sleep apnea caused by the brain ceasing to tell the body to breathe. This is a more dangerous and difficult to treat form of sleep apnea. One type of Central sleep apnea is Cheyne-Stokes breathing which has alternate periods of no breathing (apnea) changing smoothly into periods of hyper-breathing, which smoothly change back to no-breathing. Cheyne-Stokes breathing is abnormal. It may occur during sleep or wakefulness. It is generally a sign of more advanced disease when it occurs during wakefulness. Because the brain controls breathing patterns, brain damage can result in central sleep apnea. This is the simplest cause to understand, but it occurs far less often than the most common cause. Heart failure is the most common cause of central sleep apnea. About 40% to 60% of persons with heart failure have central sleep apnea. Brain damage (ischemic stroke, full stroke) can also make you a lot more prone to central sleep apnea.

[mmichaels1970]

I'm 70, don't have it but what causes it?

I personally believe it’s been around forever. Just as snoring has. It’s only relatively recently you can easily hook yourself up to a home test, measure it accurately, and obtain treatment for it.

I’ve had it most of my life, I suspect. I just sucked it up and thought it was normal to crash on the couch for a couple hours at 5pm every day. So glad I decided to check it out and get it taken care of.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

It as been around for a long time.

When you read old tales about something "stealing your breath" while you are asleep you are probably lookin at sleep apnea.

Sort of like having a stroke used to be called being elf shot.

Now it has probably gone up because of two things.

People are heavier then they used to be and people are now aware of what someone stopping breathing while they are asleep means and know what to do about it.

People used to just die and as long as no one murdered them, it was just their time to go.

[minnesota_bound]

Get a better pillow.
There is Latex and Memory foam options.
I like the latex as memory foam is too warm for me. Add a pillow cover and pillow case. There are different thicknesses. I find regular pillows as too thick for me.

Slim sleeper
https://www.amazon.com/Elite-Rest-Sleeper-Memory-Pillow/dp/B012BADRZG

I sleep so much better. I do not toss and turn as I do with a regular sized pillow that will collapse during the night and you wake up with neck pain.

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[Bratch]

Based on what I've read, the issue with the foam seems to be related to the cleaning machines that use ozone.

I don't have one, just use dish soap and water. So I'm hoping my Dream Station is okay.

[RummyChick]

Risk greater but foam breaking down is the issue. Foam will break down without ozone as the air rushes through it

[ckilmer]

Medicare pays for cpap