When he arrived on the appointed evening, Vernon was wired from head to toe with monitoring devices that would measure his body's waves and rhythms. While not a suite at the Marriott, his room did have a floral comforter and pictures on the wall. He drifted to sleep, and during the next few hours the monitors revealed that he stopped breathing an average of 60 times an hour, for up to a minute and a half each time. His sleep study was evaluated by Richard Millman, MD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center of Lifespan Hospitals, who diagnosed him with sleep apnea. Each time breathing stops, the level of oxygen in the bloodstream falls, making the heart work harder.
Blood pressure rises.
The heart may beat irregularly and even pause for several seconds. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with incidents where people nod off at work or behind the wheel. The goal of each is to open the airway to allow normal breathing. None of the treatments is guaranteed, but most people find relief from one of them. Before going to bed, he straps on a mask that covers his nose.