Can Sleep Apnea Cause Death?

For the millions of people worldwide, living with chronic sleep apnea, the question 'can sleep apnea cause death', may sound a little extreme, and is bound to be frightening!

Although sudden or unexpected death due to heart complications associated with this sleep disorder is possible, the risks associated with sleep apnea/heart disease can be varied, obscure, and complex. To a great extent many of these are not yet fully understood, in spite of previous and on-going research and study.

What you need to know

Many studies have shown that sleep deprivation and heart disease are inter-related, what is not clear though, is whether sleep apnea causes heart disease, or whether heart disease causes sleep apnea. In fact, it may be that each condition is a 'trigger' or risk factor for the other in many cases.

• In April 2008, the journal 'Sleep', published two reports which concluded that people with severe sleep apnea were at a much greater risk of dying prematurely from ANY cause, (not just heart disease) than people without a sleep disorder.



• Additionally, a study of over 1000 people, conducted at the Yale Center for Sleep Medicine, found that obstructive sleep apnea 'significantly increases the risk of stroke or death from any cause'



• Another study, this time at the University of Toronto in Canada, found that patients with severe sleep apnea had a risk of stroke that was up to 4 times greater than average.



• Research also indicates that sufferers from severe and chronic sleep apnea, who already have heart disease, may be at higher risk of heart beat irregularities (arrhythmias) than most of the general public.

There are also many other, much more common, ways in which sleep apnea is hazardous to your health (and could cause serious injury or death). These include -

• Sleep deprivation causes excessive daytime sleepines, poor judgement, and slow reflexes/reaction times. Not surprisingly, these can be the cause of car accidents and collisions, work-related injuries and accidents, falls, medication mistakes and overdoses... and more.


• Living with a chronic sleep disorder can also cause the chemical balance in your body to be constantly 'out of whack' (for lack of a more scientific term!), and your hormones and blood sugar levels may fluctuate on a daily basis. This can cause anxiety and/or depression, which may lead to substance abuse or even thoughts of suicide.

Although the answer to the question "can sleep apnea cause death?" seems to be a loud and clear "yes it can", appropriate and recommended treatment for the condition can reduce, and in many cases eliminate, sleep apnea itself. Which, in turn, has the potential to reduce the risk of associated heart disease or stroke.

How exactly can sleep apnea affect my heart?

When this happens, your body is deprived of oxygen and, not surprisingly, puts a considerable strain on your heart as it struggles to continue to pump blood around your body.

When this happens over and over again, night after night, the constant pressure on your heart can result in dangerous arrhythmia. It may also cause your heart to become weakened and enlarged, linking sleep apnea to congestive heart failure.

Research has indicated that up to 50% of people diagnosed with heart failure, also suffer from severe and chronic sleep apnea.

The chicken or the egg?

Clearly, the strain on the heart caused by a breathing disorder, is a contributing factor in many cases of coronary disease. But, the relationship between sleep deprivation and heart problems is not as clear cut in all situations.

People who live with heart disease, often (understandably) live with a high level of chronic anxiety and/or pain. Neither of these are conducive to a good night's sleep, and since studies indicate that sleep deprivation itself contributes to the development of heart disease, this obviously worsens the situation. However, it is not necessarily the cause of the problem.

Reducing the risks between sleep apnea and congestive heart failure

The answer to that question has not yet been answered fully, but research into this topic is on-going and new information/discoveries are constantly being made.

A recently published study, conducted by the Oxford Center for Respiratory Medicine in the UK, has found evidence that people who suffer with even mild to moderate sleep apnea may be at a significantly increased risk for heart disease.

Here's a quote from Dr Malcolm Kohler MD, lead author of this particular study.... 'This [study] suggests that asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patients with OSA may enjoy a cardiovascular benefit from CPAP therapy'.

So, if you have sleep apnea (take our self-administered sleep apnea test or check out our guide to sleep apnea symptoms if you're in doubt) it's highly recommended that you seek a professional diagnosis and treatment so that you can minimize your risk and protect the health of your heart.

Other risk factors to consider also include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. These should be avoided wherever possible, or steps taken to treat/control them.

By treating your sleep apnea, you may also be able to protect and care for the health of your heart. That's worth the effort, don't you think?

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