Posted on 08/19/2021 6:12:08 PM PDT by 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.
Ping
Bkmk
I got it + a good nest egg. So why don’t women still find me attractive? Used to be the best-lookin’ guy in the room.
Killed my father in law.
If you wake up with headaches or have what seems like reflux when going to sleep check it out
Reggie White was a football player at the University of Tennessee and then in the NFL. He died of sleep apnea. More information about the foundation to fight sleep apnea:
https://dreamsleep.rest/reggie-white-foundation/support-us/
You can download OSCAR for certain machines so you can see all the details. The new resmed machine not comparible yet
The resmed 10 does have foam that the air goes through..that resmed claims is safe unlike the current recall....
Who knows if true
I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2000. There isn’t the slightest question in my mind that I’d have been in my grave for a long time now if it hadn’t been diagnosed.
They put me on a CPAP. It was mildly annoying to get used to the first couple weeks. But it quickly grew to the point I couldn’t sleep without it. Because, literally, I could not sleep (in any meaningful sense of the word) without it.
My oldest brother was also diagnosed. He refused to use the CPAP they gave him. As a result (I believe), he developed Alzheimers. He is now basically a vegetable.
If you are excessively tired during the day, regularly doze off while driving, have gastric reflux, snore loudly, and/or just have a large neck, you should get checked for this condition.
And what death is better than sudden death, especially in one’s sleep?
A convincing argument to quit using my CPAP, in this collapsing world.
Friend of mine is a Pulmonologist...he has a Sleep Study place...
Sleep Apnea is a big deal....
I stop breathing so much i am shocked it hasnt caused a stroke.
> And what death is better than sudden death, especially in one’s sleep?
Nope. Can’t take any enemies with me that way.
Just get hookers...
When I was first diagnosed with sleep apnea and got my first machine 15 years ago,we went to Kansas City for a baseball tournament. I figured I didn’t need to haul it with me for the weekend.
On the drive back, I almost fell asleep a 1/2 dozen times. I don’t go anywhere without it now.
My tai kwan do instructor told me I had it. He was right!
I'm 70, don't have it but what causes it?
I do know several men my own age who have it and younger men too.
What was its genesis?
Another good reason not to get the jab, if you have sleep apnea.
Dr. Soose agreed:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Apnea’s bad.
It ruins your sleep.
With a CPAP device,
your sleep can be deep.
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