Sleep apnea is a condition that is not always treated seriously, sometimes with devastating consequences. One indication of sleep apnea is snoring. Sleep apnea is caused by the same conditions as snoring--constriction of nasal airways and the throat. Unfortunately this signal, which should indicate a problem, is often overlooked. Sometimes, the only indication is a partner complaining about the snoring. Unfortunately, sleep apnea can kill, as it did on December 29, 2004. Just seven days after his 43rd birthday, NFL hall-of-famer Reggie White passed away. While the official cause was recorded as cardiac arrythmia, sleep apnea is thought to have contributed to his death.



Sleep can be a hazardous state for people with sleep apnea. It is caused by relaxation of the muscles in the air passages, which causes breathing to be interrupted. Breathing is often restarted with a loud rumbling snore. These non-breathing events, or apneas, can last for ten to thirty seconds. It is frightening to realize that someone with sleep apnea may stop breathing as many as 100 times during a typical night's sleep.

Recent studies on athletes are coming up with some startling results. With professional football increasingly pushing for bigger players, more are obese now than ever before. There are concerns that with nearly 400 players with weights over 300 pounds, football is setting a dangerous precedent. These men are destined to have problems because of the large size of their necks and tongues. As they sleep, their tongue begins to drop back, slowly blocking the windpipe. The uvula (the small fleshy V-shaped flap that hangs down at the back of the throat) also blocks the airway. As the swollen tissues block the throat, the athlete has further difficulty with snoring, and develop serious, potentially life threatening, sleep disorders.

Studies have shown that fourteen percent of all professional football players suffer from sleep apnea. Even more worrying is the study showed up to 34% of offensive and defensive linemen, Reggie White was one of these, are likely afflicted with the condition.

When looking for signs and symptoms, loud snoring and daytime sleepiness are key signals. Sleep apnea can be more accurately predicted by evaluating BMI (body mass index) and neck size.

It is a hard thing to learn that your job may kill you. But for many of these athletes that is exactly what studies are showing. Despite good intentions to lose the weight when their careers are over, too many players have found it almost impossible after years of working hard to put on and keep the weight. Coaching staff push these athletes to get bigger and stay bigger. The average weight of football players has increased by ten percent since 1985. This higher weight not only risks more complicated injuries, it risks life threatening sleep disorders.

It is hoped that with Reggie White's death, the world of sport has an increased awareness of sleep disorders, and the dangers associated with them, helping to prevent another tragic death.