Doctors have long believed that if someone is without a heartbeat for longer than about 20 minutes, the brain usually suffers irreparable damage. But this can be avoided, Parnia says, with good quality CPR and careful post-resuscitation care.

Our body needs oxygen to obtain energy to fuel all our living processes. Carbon dioxide is a waste product of that process. The respiratory system, with its conduction and respiratory zones, brings air from the environment to the lungs and facilitates gas exchange both in the lungs and within the cells.

Every person and situation is different, though the “rule of threes” gets at the desperate nature of what our bodies need: three minutes without oxygen, three days without water, three weeks without food. But some extraordinary members of our species have broken and redefined these and other limits of human survival.

Between 30-180 seconds of oxygen deprivation, you may lose consciousness. At the one-minute mark, brain cells begin dying. At three minutes, neurons suffer more extensive damage, and lasting brain damage becomes more likely. At five minutes, death becomes imminent.

Breathing that stops from any cause is called apnea. Slowed breathing is called bradypnea. Labored or difficult breathing is known as dyspnea.

Sleep apnea is an involuntary cessation of breathing that occurs while the patient is asleep. The Greek word “apnea” literally means “without breath.” There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Of the three, obstructive sleep apnea, often called OSA for short, is the most common.

Wedge pillows are ideal for sleep apnea sufferers, as an incline opens the airway through gravity and reduces apnea events. Our favorite choice is the Helix Wedge Pillow, which offers supportive polyfoam construction with a gel foam layer to allow for a cooler sleep.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of health problems, including: High blood pressure. Stroke. Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks.

Sleep Apnea Signs: Snoring, Gasping, Sleepiness Loud, persistent snoring. Pauses in breathing, accompanied with gasping episodes when sleeping. Excessive sleepiness during waking hours.

If overweight and obese people lose weight, it would make both sleep apnea and other health problems [such as heart disease] go away. Losing just 10% of body weight can have a big effect on sleep apnea symptoms. In some cases, losing a significant amount of weight can even cure the condition.

Bananas: While most fruits are great for improving sleep apnea symptoms, bananas are an exception. They actually can increase mucus production, which can make breathing problems worse while you sleep. The softer and more over-ripe they are, the more likely they can be to contributing to your problem.

This can be one reason for your daytime fatigue, sleep disorders and in some cases an important factor leading to sleep apnea obstruction. Here is a look at how vitamin D can improve sleep and how vitamin D levels can be increased in your body. Hence vitamin D consumption is an essential part of sleep apnea treatment.