Sleep Apnea Death Risks May 22, 2007 - Bad enough by itself, sleep apnea can lead to worse things -- such as serious car wrecks, heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy complications.

The findings point to a growing awareness that sleep apnea contributes to a wide range of public health problems. All of the studies were reported at this week's annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society in San Francisco.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a narrowing or collapse of throat tissues during sleep. Blood-oxygen levels plummet, and the body responds by sending out a flood of hormonal emergency signals. The sufferer wakes, sometimes 30 or more times an hour, his or her body in full "flight or fight" mode.

"That does a number on your sympathetic nervous system," Yale researcher Nader Botros, MD, MPH, tells WebMD. "It is as if you were waked at night because a saber-toothed tiger was chasing you."

This obviously prevents a good night's sleep and results in daytime sleepiness. But it also means that repeated stress signals take their toll. The new studies assess that toll.

Sleep Apnea and Other Causes of Fatigue