What causes death during sleep?

Most people cannot choose when they die. Of all the times of day, dying in sleep seems to be the most peaceful and avoids the pain of dying in the final moments, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

People with cardiovascular problems are more likely to experience cardiac arrest, or even sudden death while sleeping.

However, cases of sudden death while sleeping are rare. The cause is usually due to some underlying health problem, such as cardiovascular disease.

An article published in the Journal of the American Heart Association estimates that approximately 15-20% of sudden deaths are caused by heart disease. Among cardiovascular diseases, coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of sudden death.

A study published in the journal Heart Rhythm found that approximately 22% of sudden cardiac deaths occur at night. Patients experience cardiac arrest and pass away while sleeping.

Cardiac arrest is a condition where the heart suddenly stops beating due to an electrical disturbance in the heart, causing the heartbeat to become irregular and eventually stop. People who experience cardiac arrest may sometimes feel dizzy before fainting due to the heart stopping.

In fact, cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack. While cardiac arrest is the sudden cessation of the heart's beating, a heart attack occurs due to poor blood flow to the heart. Even without blood flow, the heart continues to beat. These two conditions are related. The American Heart Association states that people who have had a heart attack are at a higher risk of cardiac arrest.

To reduce the risk of cardiac arrest and sudden death during sleep, patients need to take medication to control underlying risk factors. In addition, they should quit smoking, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and control their blood pressure and cholesterol.

Typically, it is difficult to diagnose cardiac arrest before it occurs, although sometimes symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea may appear about an hour before cardiac arrest. A study in the journal Heart Rhythm found that women are more likely to experience cardiac arrest and sudden death at night than men.

People at risk of cardiac arrest during sleep often have coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, structural heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or asthma. In addition, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, or drug use also increase the risk of cardiac arrest.

To reduce the risk of cardiac arrest and sudden death during sleep, patients need to take medication to control underlying risk factors. In addition, they need to quit smoking, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and control their blood pressure and cholesterol, according to Healthline.

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