State Representative Robert Donatucci died in his sleep on November 9, 2010, of sleep apnea. Although there were suspicions that Mr. Donatucci had sleep apnea, when he went for a sleep study, he didn’t like the CPAP mask he had to wear so he did not complete the test. Sadly, this decision may have cost him his life.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common breathing disorder that occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax, causing your airway to narrow or close. When your airway closes, breathing is stopped momentarily. A person with sleep apnea may make a gasping or choking sound as they begin to breathe again. These apneas can occur up to 30 times or more every hour. When your breathing becomes shallow or obstructed, you often move from a deep sleep to a lighter sleep state. This interferes with a good night’s sleep, resulting in excessive sleepiness during the day.
Symptoms of sleep apnea include: daytime sleepiness; excessive loud snoring; a dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening; a morning headache; problems with memory, attention and/or concentration; irritability, depression, or mood swings; or insomnia.
According to Inland Empire Sleep Solutions, “Obstructive sleep apnea affects more than 20 million Americans and can lead to hypertension, heart attack, stroke, depression, muscle pain, fibromyalgia, morning headaches, and excessive daytime sleepiness.” Research suggests that adults with untreated sleep apnea are almost 50% more likely to die prematurely than those who sleep normally.
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