It is not the lack of sleep which kills. It is the stress it puts on the heart — because when a person stops breathing, their oxygen level drops. True, when their breathing stops, they do wake up — its an involuntary reaction — they wake up so that they can take a breath.
Then, the heart has to work overtime to get the oxygen level back up. This could happen 50 times a night. Eventually, the heart wears out.
That’s my understanding. I have sleep apnea, and I wear a mask at night. Sleep like a baby. Also I’ve never abducted by aliens in my sleep. I’m sure they take one look at me, and saw “let’s go down the street.”
On the subject of avoiding abduction by aliens, a messy bedroom doesn’t hurt!
Yeah that’s the big hazard, killed Reggie White. Suffocating a couple hundred times a night turns out to be pretty bad for you. Glad the treatment is working for you, SA is a pretty scary thing.
Amen. Mine had been going on for so long I forgot what a good nights sleep was and thought feeling like I did was "normal".
I also understand when you stop breathing and then all of a sudden have to wake up to start again it triggers the flight or fight response and dumps a load of adrenaline which in turn increase blood pressure.
Not only that but do it enough and pretty soon you're awake and can't go back to sleep.
Just my thought, never seen anything medical that supports the second part.