By Geraldine Ohonba
Medical experts are sounding the alarm on a silent but serious health condition — sleep apnea — as a major contributor to strokes. Once thought of as just a sleep disorder, new evidence shows that untreated sleep apnea significantly increases the chances of life-threatening brain attacks.
Stroke, often caused by blocked or ruptured blood vessels in the brain, has long been linked to risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation. But recent findings now highlight sleep apnea as another critical trigger. Patients with the disorder stop breathing multiple times during sleep, starving the brain of oxygen and straining the cardiovascular system.
Doctors point out that nearly half of stroke patients also suffer from sleep apnea. In many cases, the condition goes undetected until a serious episode occurs. However, treatments like CPAP therapy — a device that keeps airways open during sleep — have been shown to drastically reduce recurrence and improve patient outcomes.
Beyond sleep apnea, researchers are also exploring other surprising causes of stroke, including gum disease, which can release harmful bacteria into the bloodstream and damage blood vessels.
Health specialists stress that stroke prevention requires more than just medication. Regular screenings, proper sleep, dental care, and consistent follow-up after a stroke can lower risks significantly.
“Sleep apnea is not just about snoring — it’s a warning sign,” one neurologist noted. “Recognizing and treating it early could save lives by preventing strokes before they happen.”
