A startling new coroner’s report in light of actress Carrie Fisher’s death reveals that “sleep apnea and other undetermined factors” may have been linked to the massive heart attack the actress suffered days before she died.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office also added last week that atherosclerotic heart disease – fatty tissue in the walls of Fisher’s arteries – also contributed to her death — along with drugs found in her system, like: cocaine, morphine, codeine and oxycodone.
Fisher, battled drug addiction and mental illness for most of her life. Her family says the coroner’s findings about the drugs in her system were “not enlightening”… however, evidence of sleep apnea was a bit surprising.
Fisher, died at the age of 60 just days after Christmas 2016.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Can Be Fatal
News of this report should raise awareness about severity and seriousness of sleep apnea. Not only can sleep apnea leave you feeling fatigued and sleep deprived, but in rare cases – such as Carrie Fisher’s – it can be fatal. Sleep apnea has also been linked to high blood pressure and to increased chances of heart disease, stroke, and irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Sleep apnea is a common sleeping disorder that causes frequent pauses in breathing during sleep and is often accompanied by snoring. About 6% of adults in the U.S. suffer from moderate to severe forms of the condition.
How to Know If You Have a Sleep Apnea Problem
Most often, it’s your spouse who will notice that you are snoring heavily and having periods where you stop breathing or wake up abruptly with shortness of breath.
If you believe you suffer from sleep apnea — it’s important that you seek treatment immediately. Contact THE SCIENCE OF SMILES® for an immediate evaluation and consultation so we can review all of the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea — and develop a course of treatment.
SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT AT THE SCIENCE OF SMILES®
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