Sleep Apnea

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

I saw a report of why NFL lineman die in the sleep when they are relatively young, it was apnea.These guys were using the ventilator as well.

My older brother is a pulmonary specialist at the Ohio State Med Center and got to do a study and a paper on sleep studies he did on their football players. Besides getting to see in person what amazing athletes they are, he said quite a few of the offensive and defensive lineman had some form of sleep apnea and that weight, even if its huge muscles, is one of the biggest contributing factors. He said that they want to start trying more sleep studies on NFL players because his partner for the study estimates around half of the pro lineman probably have some form of it.

[seanyob]

Seanyob, that's not all that unusual, you should read up on it, there's a lot of msaterial out there and some of it might help you. Ambien has definitely been asssociated with this phenomenom, but there are other causes as well. Bottom line is you don't want to be sleepwalking if you can avoid it, it can lead to bad or potentially fatal (i.e. the sleep-driving) consequences as you've seen.

My old roomate woke up naked in the kitchen covered in blood from a pickle jar he'd broken and then walked on the glass without knowing it, you don't want to be him, that sucked a lot.

Yeah, I've done a little research on it but I need to do more for sure. I DO NOT want to be out driving!

Funny you mention the pickle jar. We've got one of those huge COSTCO pickle chip jars in my fridge and I definitely go for those in the middle of the night.. (my brother also, but I think he's awake).

[cantunamunch]

Can't find my keys when I'm awake.

[summit]

One KEY piece of information has not been mentioned here. Altitude may instigate and certainly exacerbates existing sleep apnea.

I guess I"m assuming your buddy is a skier... have him ask the doc for an acetazolamide (diamox) rx when he goes to altitude.