Are Sleep Disorders Life-Threatening?

Sleep disorders interrupt normal sleep and can cause excessive sleepiness. This in turn can compromise one's ability to think clearly and react appropriately. Indeed, accidents at home, at work, and while driving can be life-threatening. Sleep disorders can also cause breathing to diminish or stop, decreasing blood oxygen levels. This can deprive major organs of oxygen which may lead to serious damage over time. The heart rate can slow down, skip beats, become erratic, or even stop for a few seconds. Blood pressure can rise until the person gasps for air and wakes up unknowingly, to breathe again. The spells are associated with an increased incidence of heart attacks and strokes. Sleep disorders can also cause memory deficits.

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Checklist for Sleep Disorders

• Loud snoring
• Pauses in breathing while sleeping
• Choking, gasping, or coughing during sleep
• Frequent urination at night
• Waking up non-refreshed
• Morning headaches
• Excessive daytime sleepiness/fatigue
• Falling asleep at inappropriate times – watching TV, driving, attending a meeting, or reading
• Inability to concentrate
• Irritability
• Leg jerking/restless legs before falling asleep or during sleep
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Impotence
• Memory Loss