Although a person with sleep apnea does not necessarily die while sleeping, the risk of death increases significantly if sleep apnea is untreated. The reason people with sleep apnea do not usually die in their sleep is that when the brain senses that it doesn’t have enough oxygen, it alerts the body to wake up.
One may also ask, can sleep apnea damage your heart?
When a person with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) attempts to breathe, they inhale against a narrowed or closed upper airway. These unsuccessful, forced inhalations can cause substantial changes in pressure within the chest cavity. Over time, these repetitive changes in intrathoracic pressure can damage the heart.
Hereof, can you live a full life with sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea causes you stop breathing for brief periods while you sleep. Far from harmless, the condition can lower your life expectancy in the absence of treatment.
Do I suffer from sleep apnea?
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Waking up with a dry mouth or throat. Waking up with a headache. Feeling like you regularly have poor quality sleep. Feeling excessively tired or sleepy during the day, even if you get a full night’s sleep.
Does sleep apnea kill brain cells?
Sleep apnea is a common medical condition that causes intermittent pauses in breathing during sleep. Untreated sleep apnea can cause serious health complications, including brain damage and memory loss. Untreated OSA is associated with cognitive impairments and problems with mood, memory, and alertness.
How long do you live with sleep apnea?
If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can shorten your life from anywhere between 12-15 years. While there is no permanent cure for obstructive sleep apnea, diagnosis and treatment will alleviate its effects. Proper treatment can ensure that your OSA won’t shorten your life.
What are the 3 types of sleep apnea?
What are the types of sleep apnea? A person with sleep apnea stops breathing during sleep. There are three forms of sleep apnea: central, obstructive, and complex. The most common of these is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
What happens if you don’t treat sleep apnea?
If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a number of health problems including hypertension, stroke, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the muscle tissue of the heart), heart failure, diabetes, obesity and heart attacks.