- Loud snoring
- Stopped breathing during sleep, observed
- Daytime sleepiness
- Fatigue
- Drowsy driving
- Waking up short of breath
- Waking up frequently to urinate without apparent cause
- Chest pain during sleep
Why Sleep Apnea Raises Your Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death, Cleveland Clinic – OH USA Jun 2017
Obstructive sleep apnea is common and linked to many medical problems. One common problem you may not be aware of is sudden cardiac arrest. When you have obstructive sleep apnea, “not only are you likely to wake up with a headache and fall asleep during the day, but you’re also at risk of dying suddenly,” says cardiologist Bruce Wilkoff, MD. “For most patients, sudden death is not caused by a heart attack, but by abnormal heart rhythms.”
Sleep apnea is diagnosed when you stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer — at least five times an hour — during sleep. Researchers suspect sleep apnea causes abnormal heart rhythms, which lead to sudden cardiac death, for a number of reasons, says sleep medicine expert Reena Mehra, MD, MS.
“Sleep apnea may lower oxygen levels, activate the fight-or-flight response and change pressure in the chest when the upper airway closes, stressing the heart mechanically,” she explains.
It may increase inflammation and cause unhealthy changes in blood vessels as well.
Know the symptoms
Symptoms include: