Sleep Apnea Poses Serious Health Risks

PASCO, Wash.-- We recently learned about Patrick Scott Jr. He was a 25-year-old Kennewick man who died from Sleep apnea.

Patients with this condition stop breathing in their sleep from 10 to up to 30 seconds in one night. If that isn't scary enough doctors are now saying this condition can also lead to high blood pressure, fatigue, and risk of stroke.

Sleep apnea is most common in younger men, but women are also at risk. Doctors say if someone you know has a loud and heavy snore, it's important to get them in for a consultation.

"Most of the time patients come to us because their spouses complain, all patients say I'm waking up choking and gasping because they have the apneas and then to break the cycle they have to wake themselves up, they don't know why," said Dr. Gladson Vaz, from the Lourdes Medical Center Sleep Lab.

Dr. Vaz says patients can go through a sleep study at Lourdes Medical. There are several ways to help alleviate Sleep apnea.

You can get a mask to help you breathe at night. But these have to be prescribed by your doctor.

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