Sleep apnea not only affects your sleep quality, but may even pose a life-threatening risk.
Fenghua Joint Clinic, to be further exploredsleep apneaThe correlation with death, decoding its potential hazards, and providing effective prevention and treatment suggestions. Protecting healthy sleep starts with understanding! Let’s solve this health mystery together and build a more secure foundation for you and your family.
The top three causes of death from sleep apnea
Hypoxia: A comprehensive threat to all organs of the body
The biggest concern of sleep apnea isHypoxia".
- When breathing stops,Oxygen cannot enter the lungs, and the oxygen concentration in the blood drops sharply, leading to impaired function of the brain, heart and other vital organs.
- Long-term hypoxia may causeBrain cell necrosis, memory loss, and even increased risk of stroke.
- In addition, hypoxia canBurdens the liver and kidneys, affecting the health of the whole body.
Cardiovascular disease: the silent killer of stroke and heart disease
Studies have shown that sleep apnea patientsSuffering from cardiovascular diseaseThe risk is significantly increased.
- Repeated breathing pauses can cause the sympathetic nervous system to become overactive, blood pressure to soar, and heart rate to become irregular.
- This can lead to high-fatality diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction.
- Studies have shown that patients with severe sleep apnea have more than twice the risk of sudden death from cardiovascular problems than the general population.
Sudden death: a silent life-threatening crisis
Sudden death during sleep is one of the most feared consequences of sleep apnea.
- Repeated hypoxia and hypercapnia may induce acute arrhythmias, causing the heart to stop beating at night.
- Collapse of the airway during respiratory arrest may further worsen the apnea condition.
- In some cases, patients died silently in their sleep, catching their families off guard.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are key to avoiding such tragedies.
repeatedlyrespiratory arrestIt's taking away your health!
Find out now how Fung Wah United ClinicOrthognathic surgery, completely solve the deadly threats hidden in sleep!
What is the mortality rate of sleep apnea?
According to multiple studies, there is a close link between sleep apnea and mortality.The all-cause mortality rate of patients with severe sleep apnea is 2 to 3 times higher than that of the general population.
An 18-year study in the United States showed thatThe risk of death in severe patients is about 3 times that in mild patients, especially if not treated.
Studies have shown that the severity of sleep apnea will directly affect the mortality rate of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes, highlighting the importance of early treatment.
Risk of death by severity
- Mild patients: The risk of death is slightly increased, but in most cases the risk can be reduced by improving lifestyle habits.
- Moderate patients: Regular follow-up is required, as the risks of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases begin to emerge.
- Severely ill patients: The risk of death rises significantly, especially when not receiving positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, the probability of sudden death and organ failure increases sharply.
Who are the high-risk groups?
- Older people: The risk doubles with age. Age is one of the important risk factors for sleep apnea. Research shows thatThe probability of middle-aged people over 40 years old suffering from this disease increases significantly, and the mortality rate of patients over 60 years old is even higher., which may be related to the comorbidity of cardiovascular disease and metabolic problems.
- obesity:The main high risk factorsObese patients are at high risk of sleep apnea, especiallyThose with a BMI (body mass index) of more than 30. Fat accumulation can cause airway narrowing, increase the frequency and duration of sleep apnea, and further increase the risk of sudden death.
- male:Men are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea than women, especially in middle and old age. In addition, people with a family history of sleep apnea should also pay special attention, as genetic factors may increase the risk of the disease.
- Chronic diseases: Such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hypothyroidism, etc.
- Lifestyle: Smoking, alcohol consumption and sedentary lifestyle.
- Abnormalities of the respiratory tract: Such as congenital or acquired factors such as enlarged tonsils and retracted chin.
Understanding high-risk factors early and receiving professional diagnosis and treatment are the keys to reducing mortality!
Don’t want to die suddenly from sleep apnea? Do a self-test first
The dangers of sleep apnea cannot be ignored, but early detection can effectively reduce the risk.
The following is a simple self-test method to help you initially understand whether you may be a potential patient and further seek professional diagnosis.
- Observe sleep status: Do you snore often and loudly when you sleep? Has the patient suddenly stopped breathing during sleep (observed by partner or family members)?
- Assessing daily fatigue: Do you often feel extremely tired or sleepy during the day? Do you easily fall asleep while driving or working?
- Check for nighttime signs: Do you frequently wake up due to feelings of suffocation? Do you have to get up repeatedly to go to the bathroom at night?
- Pay attention to physical symptoms: Do you have morning headaches or dry mouth? Do you experience memory loss or difficulty concentrating?
What conditions could be potential patients?
You should pay special attention if you meet the following conditions:
- Frequent snoring or breathing interruptions: Snoring accompanied by apnea is a typical feature.
- Obesity or thick neck: The risk is significantly increased for men with neck circumference greater than 17 inches and women with neck circumference greater than 16 inches.
- Extreme daytime sleepiness: Frequently feeling sleepy during daily activities is a potential warning sign.
- Family history: If someone in your family suffers from sleep apnea, you should pay more attention to your own symptoms.
If the self-test results show that you may have sleep apnea, please consult a doctor at Fenghua Clinic immediately for further polysomnography. Early detection and early treatment will keep you away from the risk of sudden death and lead a healthier life!
repeatedlyrespiratory arrestIt's taking away your health!
Find out now how Fung Wah United ClinicOrthognathic surgery, completely solve the deadly threats hidden in sleep!
Can respiratory arrest cause death? How should I treat it?
If untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems and even sudden death, but fortunately, a variety of treatments are available to effectively improve symptoms and reduce the risk.
Common treatments are listed below, with special emphasis on the long-term effectiveness of orthognathic surgery in critically ill patients.
Improve your lifestyle
- lose weight: For obese patients, weight loss can significantly reduce airway obstruction.
- Side sleeping position: Avoiding supine position can reduce the risk of airway collapse.
- Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption: Reduces airway inflammation and relaxant effect.
Use of positive airway pressure (CPAP)
Positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a non-invasive treatment method that maintains airway openness by continuously providing airway pressure. It is currently the most common and effective treatment method.
- Target customers: Mild to severe patients, especially those who want immediate improvement of symptoms.
- advantage: Quickly relieve symptoms of hypoxia and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- challenge: Some patients may feel uncomfortable or have difficulty wearing them for a long time.
Oral braces
Specially designed oral appliances can adjust the jaw position and prevent airway collapse.
- Target customers: Mild or moderate patients.
- advantage: Portable and relatively comfortable.
- limit：Limited effect on severe patients.
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic surgery is a fundamental treatment for patients with severe respiratory structural abnormalities. It improves the respiratory space permanently by adjusting the position of the upper and lower jaws.
- Target customers: Patients with moderate or severe conditions or those with significantly narrowed respiratory structure.
- advantage: Compared with other treatment methods, orthognathic surgery can fundamentally solve the problem of airway obstruction. After the surgery, orthodontic treatment can be used to correct bite or jaw bone abnormalities.
- challenge: A longer recovery period is required and the risks of surgery need to be discussed with a professional physician.
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy
For patients with airway obstruction caused by enlarged tonsils or adenoids, surgical removal is an effective treatment.
- Target customers：Children or adults with airway abnormalities.
- advantage: Improve airway patency in a short period of time.
- limit: The scope of application is small.
Medical assistance treatment
- Drug treatment: For patients with rhinitis or allergic diseases, it can reduce airway obstruction.
- Muscle training: Strengthens the mouth and throat muscles to reduce the chance of collapse.
Treating sleep apnea requires choosing the right plan based on the patient’s condition and needs, and regularly tracking the results, but if your symptoms are moderate to severe, considering orthognathic surgery may be the best option to prioritize!
Dcard hot topic discussion about sleep apnea death
Q1: Is respiratory arrest life-threatening?
Yes, the threat of sleep apnea to health cannot be ignored.Especially for patients with severe.
Repeated breathing pauses can lead to a drop in blood oxygen concentration, increasing the risk of fatal diseases such as high blood pressure, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and stroke.
The risk of sudden death increases, especially if left untreated. If you experience symptoms such as severe snoring or extreme daytime sleepiness, it is recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Q2: Are there really cases of death from apnea?
some! Many studies and reports have mentioned the direct link between sleep apnea and sudden death. In some cases, patients died during their sleep from cardiac arrest or acute respiratory failure.
For example, a Dcard user shared that an elder in his family died suddenly at night due to long-term untreated sleep apnea, which shocked the family. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, especially for patients with existing cardiovascular disease or other comorbidities.
Q3: Is difficulty breathing during sleep sleep sleep sleep apnea?
This could be a sign of sleep apnea. Sudden breathing difficulties or a feeling of suffocation during sleep are usually caused by temporary and complete blockage of the airway.
If you or your partner notice frequent breathing interruptions or awakenings, along with daytime tiredness, morning headaches, etc., sleep apnea should be highly suspected. It is recommended to conduct sleep testing such as home sleep testing or polysomnography as soon as possible to confirm the diagnosis and take appropriate treatment measures.
Fenghua Joint Clinic is the first choice for treating apnea
Medical team of Fenghua Joint ClinicWith professional technology, we can improve the airway of moderate to severe patients through orthognathic surgery and solve their long-term problems!
Choosing Fenghua United Clinic is not only to treat sleep apnea, but also to protect long-term health and life safety! Make an appointment now and let our experts provide you with a personalized sleep health plan!
