Sleep is generally associated with rest and recovery, but in rare cases, a person can die while asleep because of a serious underlying medical condition.
Death during sleep does not necessarily mean that the person had a known illness or that sleep itself caused the death. Some potentially fatal conditions can develop without obvious warning, while others may remain undiagnosed for a long time.
Several conditions involving the heart, brain and respiratory system may contribute to sudden death during sleep.
- Sudden cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the possible causes of unexpected death during sleep. It occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively, usually because of an electrical disturbance that causes an abnormal heart rhythm.
According to the American Heart Association, cardiac arrest may be linked to previous heart damage, an enlarged or thickened heart muscle, certain inherited electrical disorders and other heart-related conditions.
Because cardiac arrest can occur without much warning, it may happen while a person is asleep.
Cardiac arrest should not be confused with a heart attack. A heart attack happens when blood supply to part of the heart is blocked, whereas cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions and the heart stops pumping properly. However, a heart attack can sometimes trigger cardiac arrest.
- Sleep apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a breathing disorder in which a person’s breathing repeatedly stops and resumes during sleep.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute identifies symptoms such as loud snoring, gasping for air and repeated pauses in breathing. When left untreated, sleep apnoea can contribute to serious health complications, including an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, heart attack and stroke.
Frequent nighttime gasping, persistent loud snoring or excessive tiredness during the day should therefore not automatically be considered harmless sleeping habits.
- Stroke
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
Strokes can occur while a person is asleep, meaning some people may only discover that something is wrong after waking up. Possible warning signs include weakness or numbness, difficulty speaking, confusion, problems with coordination and loss of balance.
These symptoms require immediate medical attention because a stroke is a medical emergency.
- Seizures and “SUDEP”
For people living with epilepsy, one rare but serious risk is known as “Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy”, or “SUDEP”.
Researchers have not yet established one definitive explanation for SUDEP. Possible factors under investigation include breathing difficulties, abnormal heart rhythms and changes in brain activity following a seizure.
SUDEP frequently occurs during sleep, and in some cases, a seizure may happen without anyone nearby to witness it.
People whose seizures are not well controlled may face a higher risk, making proper medical care and effective seizure management particularly important.
- Other serious conditions
Other medical emergencies may also contribute to unexpected death during sleep. These can include inherited heart conditions, blood clots, severe breathing problems and other disorders affecting vital organs.
Because there are many possible explanations, the circumstances surrounding a person’s death cannot by themselves establish the exact cause. Doctors may require a medical examination and, in some cases, an autopsy to determine what happened.
Certain warning signs should never be ignored. These include persistent chest pain, unexplained fainting, serious breathing difficulties, repeated nighttime gasping, unexplained seizures and symptoms associated with a stroke.
If someone becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, emergency medical assistance should be sought immediately. CPR should be started when appropriate, while an automated external defibrillator (AED) should be used if one is available. Rapid intervention can significantly improve the chances of survival following cardiac arrest.
Ultimately, dying in one’s sleep is not itself a specific medical condition. It describes the circumstances in which a death occurs, while the underlying cause may involve the heart, brain, breathing system or another serious medical problem.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar.