Common Reasons Why People Die While Sleeping

Sleep is essential to existence, but it is possible to pass away while asleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 6,000 individuals in the United States die unintentionally while sleeping each year.

There are numerous common causes of death during slumber; some are natural and others are not.

According to healthline, sleep apnea is the most common natural cause of mortality during sleep. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which respiration temporarily ceases during sleep. Common causes include an obstructed airway or collapsed lung.

These obstructions can cause a person to wake up multiple times during the night, thereby disrupting their slumber. In extreme cases, the lack of oxygen caused by the pauses in respiration can be fatal.

Another prevalent cause of death during sleep involves the heart. While sleeping, sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, and arrhythmias can all cause mortality. A sudden cardiac arrest is a disruption in the heart's electrical system that causes the heart to cease beating abruptly.

Typically fatal and capable of occurring while a person is dozing. Similarly, a heart attack is an obstruction of the coronary arteries that can cause the heart to cease functioning.

Extreme arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, can also cause mortality during sleep if they are severe enough. All of these heart-related issues are capable of causing mortality at any time, but the fact that people are often in a vulnerable and relaxed state while sleeping increases their risk of passing away if they experience any of them.

External factors can also induce sleep-related deaths. These can include environmental hazards such as carbon monoxide poisoning from malfunctioning heating systems or suffocation from mattresses or other bed materials.

Sometimes, insomnia can result in death, either because the mind is overburdened and unable to rest or because of the abuse of sleeping medications. People can also perish as a result of drug or alcohol-related incidents, such as choking on vomit or experiencing a fatal overdose.

Regardless of the cause, death during slumber remains a significant cause of mortality. In order to reduce the risk, it is essential to comprehend the most common causes of death during slumber. Some preventative measures include avoiding sleeping pills, inspecting the environment for carbon monoxide, treating or monitoring heart-related conditions, and obtaining sufficient sleep.

Those who experience sleep-related symptoms such as breathing delays or arrhythmias should seek medical attention. Taking the necessary precautions can help prevent death during slumber.