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Sleep Apnea Death
What's the proof that Sleep Apnea can kill? The study published by Terry Young, Ph.D. and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin at Madison is particularly convincing and ominous. Back in 1988, Dr. Young rounded up a large group of randomly selected Wisconsinites (about 1,500 people) who agreed to be tested for Sleep Apnea. Dr. Young recorded not only whether they had Sleep Apnea, but also if they did, the level of Sleep Apnea severity. Dr. Young asked this group, known as her "Wisconsin Cohort" group, to agree to be tracked over the years, and they agreed. Fast forward to 2006, when Dr. Young checked in on them. After 18 years, some had passed away, some were still as healthy as they were back in 1988. The key for our purposes is that, controlling for all other factors, the folks who were identified as having severe Sleep Apnea and who did not get treatment for it were three to four times as likely as the others to die from something . . . anything, and five times more likely to die from stroke or cardiovascular disease.
So for those of you who need fear to motivate, are you afraid yet? I would be if I weren't paying attention to my treatment.
Views: 6151
Comment
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Comment by Dave D. on January 17, 2009 at 11:30pm
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Snoring and sleep apnea are not the same thing. Not all snorers have sleep apnea, and not all folks with sleep apnea snore. Devices that may help snoring may have little effect, and sometimes even make sleep apnea worse. The only way to know with a reasonable certainty that any device or strategy (side sleep, weight loss, surgery, etc) treats sleep apnea is with a sleep study. At least a 4 channel portable monitor.
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Comment by sleepycarol on January 16, 2009 at 10:25pm
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Never heard of one working.
In my opinion this is a scam and will not be effective -- the only way I would trust it is if I could have another sleep study done while wearing it to make sure that the apneas were prevented. If I were a betting person -- I would be that you are still having apneas and will continue to slowly suffocate yourself nightly.
A much better alternative is to purchase a used machine and get yourself a mask and get real treatment. If that simply isn't an option I would at least try to raise the head of my bed 4 to 6 inches, use a Sonoma Anti-Snore Pillow which is a special shaped pillow that helps keep you on your side, sew a tennis ball on the back of pjs, and keep my eye out for a good used machine.
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Comment by Banyon on January 16, 2009 at 5:58pm
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Of course not. You have been ripped off.
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Comment by Susan on January 14, 2009 at 12:45pm
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I have recently ordered that jaw sling. I have not received it yet, but is it possible that it can cure sleep apnea?
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Comment by Darillyn Patterson on January 9, 2009 at 11:54pm
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I've been told that I have moderate sleep apnea, which was diagnosed last summer. I suspected that I might have it because I would wake up just as tired after 8 hours of sleep as I was after 5 hours of sleep. Currently, I'm using something I found online for around $50. It's a sort of sling for the jaw so the mouth stays shut, which prevents snoring. I asked my husband if he has noticed a difference in my snoring. He said he does. My doctor's office moved too slowly in getting a prescription sent for me to get a CPAP. At this time, we don't have health insurance. We did have it when I had the sleep study test last year. So, as I mentioned, I'm trying out something I can afford.
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Comment by Rock Conner RRT on January 9, 2009 at 5:53pm
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Cheryl, if the used machine is available & functional, I say get it. Rarely does any patient encounter a new hospital bed, or mechanical ventilator, or IV pump, or oxygen concentrator. Old machine, new mask, & you are on your way. I know that's not the scientifically pure position, but I say be pragmatic. And you may be more successful in your job search if you aren't REM-starved.
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My dad died 25 years ago at age 67. Now we know that he had untreated obstructive sleep apnea. He never knew my kids & that's a shame because he would have LOVED my kids, & they would have loved & learned from him. I knew my dad as only a boy, not as an adult & father in my own right. There's so much I wish I could have talked to him about.
Real people die earlier from untreated sleep apnea. Tell everyone.
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Comment by The SleepGuide Crew on January 9, 2009 at 5:48pm
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Anyone have an extra machine they can donate?
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Comment by Dave on January 9, 2009 at 4:22pm
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I have seen it time and time again. Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea causes depression and the person gains some weight. They are prescribed anti-depressants. They get diabetes. They struggle with diabetes. They start to exhibit heart problems. They have a heart attack. They get cancer....and as you can imagine...it gets worse from there.......and that assumes the person didn't have any other problems to begin with!
Basically, sleep apnea is like a person choking you very slowly. Instead of someone choking you fully and killing you in 5 minutes - it kills you softly in a number of months or years.....so you don't bother treating it or give it your full attention...in addition, because of your lack of sleep, your mind loses its ability to focus which makes it more likely that you will not get treatment or follow treatment.....but maybe you should-if you want to live....it's in your hands....
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Regarding: "Sleep Apnea can kill you. There, I said it. I didn't want to say it, .....'
Thanks. It needs to be said to save the health and lives of our friends and relatives. Shame on medical professionals who do not say it.
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