Second when searching the internet for information about what is sleep apnea watch your spelling. Moments of apnea can occur repeatedly throughout the night as you sleep. What Causes Sleep Apnea What Causes Sleep Apnea Sleep Apnea Some statistics on sleep apnea mortality estimate that at least 38 000 people die annually from heart disease directly complicated by sleep apnea. Is central sleep apnea fatal . Central sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which you briefly stop breathing during sleep. Ignoring sleep apnea can be fatal. Sleep apnea is rarely a direct cause of death but it can lead to a wide range of other potentially fatal health problems. Obstructive sleep apnea one of many types of sleep disorders has become a significant health problem. First other names for sleep apnea are sleep disordered breathing and cheyne stokes breathing. Suffering from sleep apnea may do more than just spoil a good night s sleep. A new study shows that people with severe sleep a...