![\"\"](%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2025%5C/02%5C/22-1.png%5C%22 "\\"\\"")
\nThe thought of dying in your sleep has probably crossed your mind more than once. It\u2019s a terrifying idea \u2014 one you\u2019d rather not dwell on before closing your eyes at night.\n
But at the same time, it might be good to know if you\u2019re at risk so you can take steps to prevent it. Let\u2019s see what experienced doctors have to say:\n
Hypnophobia is the overwhelming fear of falling asleep, often fueled by the fear of losing control or even dying during sleep. For some, this fear becomes so intense that it disrupts their quality of life and takes a toll on their health. But what\u2019s behind this fear, and is there any truth to the idea that sleep could be dangerous?\n
Let\u2019s explore why some people die in their sleep and what you should know about the risks.\n
Did you know that sleeping too much could be problematic? Over the years, a lot of research has been conducted on sleep, and many people still believe that getting plenty of it is always good for the body. But if you\u2019re sleeping more than seven to eight hours a night, you might want to pay attention\u2014it could be a warning sign.\n
Researchers have discovered a link between excessive sleep and an increased risk of early death, according to The Guardian.\n
Sleeping ten hours a night raises your risk of dying early by 30% compared to someone who sleeps eight hours. This was revealed in a 2018 study published in The Journal of the American Heart Association.\n
Additionally, sleeping ten hours is associated with a 56% higher risk of dying from a stroke and a 49% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases.\n
\n
In 2023, Dr. Milind Sovani from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust in the UK shared some insight with Newsweek about the mystery of dying in one\u2019s sleep. According to Dr. Sovani, these sudden and silent deaths are \u201cusually related to the heart, lungs, or brain.\u201d\n
People can die in their sleep for various reasons, with sudden cardiac arrest being one of the most common causes. A 2021 study in Heart Rhythms found that about 22% of these deaths happen between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.\n
Dr. Milind Sovani highlights another risk factor for dying in your sleep: \u201dOccasionally, people with diabetes can die in their sleep from low glucose levels,\u201d he explains.\n
There\u2019s even a term for this tragic phenomenon \u2014 Dead-in-Bed Syndrome (DIB). This term refers to cases where someone with type 1 diabetes (T1D) goes to bed seemingly healthy but doesn\u2019t wake up.\n
Younger individuals with type 1 diabetes, especially those under 50, are at a higher risk of experiencing Dead in Bed Syndrome.\n
The good news is that DIB syndrome is rare, accounting for only about 6% of all deaths in people under 40 with type 1 diabetes, according to Diabetes UK.\n
There are also more complex and less common medical conditions that can lead to someone dying in their sleep. For instance, sleep apnea, a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, can sometimes result in fatal complications if left untreated.\n
If you\u2019re worried about having involuntary sleep interruptions, it\u2019s a good idea to consult a doctor. There are tests you can do overnight. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you may be able to treat it with a device called a CPAP machine. This machine uses a hose connected to a mask or nosepiece to provide constant, steady air pressure to help you breathe while you sleep.\n
Dr. Sovani once treated a patient with Pompe Disease, a rare genetic condition where glycogen \u2014 a complex sugar\u2014accumulates in the cells of the body, specifically in the lysosomes, as explained by the Cleveland Clinic. This happens when the body lacks an essential enzyme called acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). The disease leads to severe muscle weakness and wasting, and if left undiagnosed or untreated, it can be fatal.\n
Sadly, the patient, who was in his late 30s, passed away in his sleep. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by undiagnosed genetic conditions and the importance of early detection and treatment.\n
Conditions like unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis, where one side of the diaphragm doesn\u2019t work, can make breathing harder, especially when lying down. Dr. Sovani points out that this can mess with your lung capacity, which can lead to complications.\n
Another thing to watch out for is Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), which is more common for those with uncontrolled epilepsy. Essentially, a seizure can cause problems with breathing or heart rhythm, as the CDC explains.\n
On top of that, high blood pressure that\u2019s not under control, heart failure, and sleep apnea \u2014 which causes your breathing to stop and start throughout the night \u2014 can all increase the chances of dying in your sleep. It\u2019s definitely something to keep in mind if you\u2019re dealing with any of these conditions.\n
\u201dIf you suffer from a heart condition, you may also be fitted with a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator,\u201d Dr. Sovani adds, which help regulate your heartbeat.\n
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle \u2014 getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising\u2014along with regular check-ins with your doctor, can also play a big role in preventing these conditions from getting worse.\n
If you\u2019ve hit your head hard or experienced significant trauma to your head, it\u2019s important to keep an eye on things. Severe brain injuries can sometimes lead to sudden death, often while a person is asleep. Symptoms like nausea, constant headaches, or dilated pupils can sometimes be missed or brushed off after a head injury. If someone tries to \u201dsleep off\u201d these symptoms, they could end up having a brain bleed during the night and passing away.\n
It\u2019s generally okay to sleep after a concussion, but it\u2019s crucial to see a healthcare provider or go to the emergency room first for an evaluation.\n
Whether dying in your sleep is painful or not really depends on what causes it. Some people pass away peacefully, not feeling any pain or even realizing what\u2019s happening.\n
But for others, they might wake up for a moment and feel some distress before they pass. Conditions like a heart attack or trouble breathing can bring pain before death.\n
The thought of dying suddenly in your sleep is terrifying, and it\u2019s something none of us want to imagine. But it\u2019s important to remember that it\u2019s rare to pass away unexpectedly without having been diagnosed with a serious condition.\n
While there are risk factors that could increase the chances of dying in your sleep, don\u2019t forget to live. Life is precious, and it\u2019s the moments we share, the love we give, and the memories we create that truly matter. So, take care of yourself, cherish those around you, and live fully\u2014because each day is a gift.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The thought of dying in your sleep has probably crossed your mind more than once. It\u2019s a terrifying idea \u2014 one you\u2019d rather not dwell on before closing your eyes at night. But at the same time, it might be good to know if you\u2019re at risk so you can take steps to prevent it. …\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":102274,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1448,670],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-102273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102273"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102276,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102273\/revisions\/102276"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}