Those who have suffered from sleep apnea for up to 5 years have a 30% jump in their risk of suffering a heart attack or dying, according to a Yale University study. The level of severity of your sleep apnea increases your risk for either a heart attack or death.

What are the chances of dying from sleep apnea?

About 19 percent of participants with severe sleep apnea died (12 deaths), compared with about four percent of participants with no sleep apnea (46 deaths).

Can you die in your sleep from sleep apnea?

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 doesnt have enough oxygen, it alerts the body to wake up.

Does sleep apnea get worse as you age?

Besides causing poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness, apnea can worsen other aspects of your health, including your heart health and blood pressure. 7. The aging process: You lose muscle tone all over your body as you age. Just as other parts of your body lose muscle as you get older, so does your airway.