Sleep apnea—a common sleeping disorder that causes frequent pauses in breathing during sleep and is often accompanied by snoring—can do more than keep you and your partner up at night. A new report in the journal Sleep suggests that the disorder—found in over 18 million Americans—could actually lead to death.

Researchers studied 1,522 men and women for 18 years. At the conclusion of the study, 80 people died due to sleep apnea or other health-related illnesses connected with sleep apnea, such as heart disease. Study researchers found that death was three times more likely to occur in sleep apnea sufferers than those not affected by the disorder.  

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