Stroke is a potentially fatal condition that needs to be treated right away. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can happen when something prevents blood flow to a portion of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts (CDC). The likelihood that your brain will suffer damage or degeneration after surviving a stroke increases, which could lead to long-term disability or even death. Having said that, let’s first examine the risk.
People over the age of 55, those with pre-existing medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, and those with a family history of stroke, heart attack, or transient ischemic attack may be more at risk of having a stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic. In addition to these risk factors, however, severe sleep apnea can raise your risk of having a brain attack.
A serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea causes loud snoring and frequent, abrupt stops and starts in breathing. It’s intriguing that some reports point to a potential connection between sleep apnea and stroke. According to the Sleep Apnea Organization, up to 70% of stroke patients develop sleep apnea. Additionally, it has been claimed that irregular breathing while you sleep may even come before a stroke. A threat to the brain is posed by the fact that approximately 85% of people with sleep apnea are unaware of their condition. For this reason, medical professionals consider sleep apnea to be a stroke risk factor.
