Cardiovascular trouble was 3 times much more likely in males with severe untreated sleep apnea than it was in men with treated sleep apnea. Actually, rates of heart trouble were about the same in males with treated apnea as they were among simple snorers – who have noisy but regular breathing while asleep – and nonsnorers. The results appeared within the March 19, 2005, Lancet.
A somewhat related study from the Mayo Clinic established that individuals with sleep apnea are more likely to die suddenly from a heart rhythm problem during sleeping hours. In the general population, such sudden deaths are most frequent within the few hours after waking.
