Why do people more often die in their sleep?
Most people when asked will state that dying in their sleep may be preferable as sleep is seen as a peaceful state and slipping from sleep to death may be a “good way to go” as it would seem to imply there would be minimal suffering. When life is complete, this is likely true. However, a sudden unexpected death during sleep may be undesirable and, in some cases, preventable.
Most theorizing as to why death can occur more commonly in sleep is due to the way the cardiovascular and nervous systems cycle throughout the 24 day. Sleep is generally a restful state, however, in REM sleep (rapid eye movement sleep), the body is preparing for wake, and heart rate and blood pressure can fluctuate quite a bit. While this may be well-tolerated in an otherwise healthy individual, this may not be well tolerated in someone with cardiac ischemia (having a heart attack) or other heart rhythm problem.
Equally true is the way that sleep affects the respiratory system. During REM sleep, the diaphragm is one of the only muscles that promotes breathing as the chest wall muscles and accessory muscles are relaxed. In a normal healthy person, this is well tolerated. However, in someone with severe muscle weakness (due to age or pneumonia or neuromuscular disease) the loss of these extra muscles for breathing may lead to lower oxygen levels. These low oxygen levels can trigger heart problems (as explained above) and lead to death. There are also some sleep disorders that can be fatal and will be discussed as follows.
Can children die from sleep disorders?
Yes. The most well-known fatal sleep disorder in children is SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Can I die from sleep apnea?
Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to premature death in two ways. First, the constant stress of a low oxygen body and subsequent neuroendocrine stress response, can worsen other health problems, such as atrial fibrillation and hypertension. These disorders have been linked to premature death. In addition, untreated sleep apnea itself, due to low oxygenation and a strain on the heart, can also lead to sudden death as explained above. While aggressively treating sleep apnea can markedly improve this, it is unclear if the risks are completely reversed with treatment. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of all medical conditions, in general, usually lead to better disease control and less damage to the body.
Are there other sleep disorders that can kill?
Yes. The main three sleep disorders that have been clearly shown to be fatal are African Sleeping Sickness, Fatal Familial Insomnia and SUNDS.